^4l 


'r 


//i/^few 


'  She  entered  the  hall  blooming  as  a  rose.'''' 

CHAP.    I. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIPS 


A  STUDY  IN  PINK. 


FROM  THE  FRENCH  OP 
GYP, 

AUTHOR     OF 

'CHIFFON'S    MARRIAGE." 


BY 
KATHERINE  BERRY  di  ZEREGA. 

WITH  ORIGINAL  DRAWINGS  BY 

S.  B.  ASPELL. 


F.  TENNYSON  NEELY, 

114  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York. 

1896. 


Copyright,  1896 
By  F.  Tennyson  Neely 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 


The  Marchioness  de  Bracieux  was  working 
for  her  poor.  She  thrust  her  large  amber- 
shell  crochet-needle  into  a  fluffy  ball  of  wool, 
and  laying  the  ball  on  her  lap,  raised  her  eyes 
and  regarded  her  grandnephew  Jean  de 
Blaye. 

"Jean,  what  in  the  world  are  you  looking 
at  that  is  so  interesting  ?  You  are  standing 
there  flattening  your  nose  against  the  window 
exactly  as  you  used  to  do  when  you  were  a 
small  child  and  incorrigible." 

Jean  de  Blaye  quickly  turned  his  face,  that 
had  been  pressed  against  the  diatuond  pane  of 
the  bay-window,  and  answered  with  a  slight 
hesitation: 

"  I?    Why,  nothing,  aunt — nothing  at  all!" 

"  Nothing  at  all?  Well,  you  are  looking  at 
it  with  a  great  deal  of  attention!" 

"Don't  believe  him,  grandmother,"  said 
Madame  de  Rueille  in  a  beautiful  grave  voice. 
"  He  is  always  hoping  that  a  cab  may  appear 
at  the  turn  of  the  avenue."  ^. 

"Is  he  expecting  any  one?"  inquired  the      ^^ 
marchioness.  ^,.- 


2  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Madame  de  Rneille  explained,  laughing: 

"  No,  but  a  cab,  even  a  cab  from  Pont-sur- 
Loire,  would  remind  him  of  Paris." 

"It  is  only  one  of  Bertrade's  jokes." 

"  '  Even  a  cab  from  Pont-sur- Loire  ?' "  said 
the  marchioness.  "  One  vrould  say  that  Pont- 
sur-Loire,  with  its  division  of  cavalry,  its 
theater,  and  its  faculty,  was  quite  a  town! 
Ah!  indeed,  if  the  president.  Monsieur  Dubuis- 
son,  were  to  hear  you." 

"  Well,  it  isn't  quite  Paris,  but  it  might  re- 
mind amateurs  of  it." 

Jean  murmured  without  moving: 

"  Oh,  I  don't  care  so  much  about  being  re- 
minded of  Paris." 

Madame  de  Rueille  observed  him  with  some 
surprise,  and  turning  toward  her  grandmother 
remarked: 

"  One  would  almost  say  that  he  was  sin- 
cere." 

''  Sincere,  but  absorbed,"  said  the  mar- 
chioness. 

And  addressing  a  young  abbe  who  was  play- 
ing lotto  with  the  Eueille  children,  she  asked: 

"  Monsieur  I'Abbe,  tell  us  is  there  anything 
interesting  going  on  now  on  the  terrace?" 

The  abbe,  who  was  seated  with  his  back  to 
the  great  bay-window,  looked  over  his  shoulder 
and  answered  at  once: 

"I  see  nothing  in  the  least  interesting, 
Madame  la  Marquise." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  3 

"Nothing  in  the  least,"  affirmed  Jean. 

And  leaving  the  window,  he  came  and  sat 
down  on  a  divan.  One  of  the  little  De  Rueilles, 
neglecting  his  lotto  counters  and  leaving  the 
abbe  to  repeat  the  numbers  with  invariable 
patience,  had  perched  himself  on  a  chair,  and 
contorting  his  features,  seemed  to  be  making 
signs  to  some  one. 

"  At  whom  are  you  making  such  horrible 
faces,  little  Marcel?"  asked  his  grandmother. 

"At  Bijou,"  said  the  child.  "She  is  out 
there  picking  flowers." 

"  Has  she  been  there  a  long  time?" 

It  was  the  abbe  who  answered: 

"  Ten  minutes  or  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  Ma- 
dame la  Marquise. " 

"  And  you  think  Bijou  is  not  an  interesting 
object  to  look  at  ?"  cried  the  old  woman,  laugh- 
ing. "You  are  hard  to  please.  Monsieur 
I'Abbe!" 

The  Abbe  Courteil,  who  was  quite  new  to 
the  house  and  timid  beyond  belief,  blushed 
from  his  collar  to  the  roots  of  his  very  pale 
blond  hair  and  murmured  confusedly: 

'■'•  Mon  Dieu!  Madame  la  Marquise.  I 
thought  when  you  asked  if  there  were  any- 
thing interesting  taking  place  on  the  terrace 
you  meant  something  extraordinary,  and  I 
didn't  think  that  the  presence  of  Mademoiselle 
Bij — of  Mademoiselle  Denyse,  I  mean  to  say. 


4  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

who  gathers  flowers  for  her  baskets  every  day 
at  this  hour  and  at  this  place,  could  be  con- 
sidered  " 

The  sentence  concluded  in  unintelligible 
fashion,  and  the  abb6,  highly  embarrassed, 
went  on  shaking  the  numbers  in  a  bag. 

"Poor  abbe!"  said  Bertrade  de  liueHle  in 
an  undertone.  "You  are  worrying  him, 
grandmother  !" 

"Why,  no!  Why,  no!  I'm  not  worry- 
ing him  at  all.  You  are  exaggerating,  little 
one." 

And  after  a  moment's  reflection  Madame 
de  Bracieux  resumed: 

"  So  he  is  blind,  this  boy!" 

"What  boy?" 

"Your  abbe!  Parhleu!  He  gives  stupid 
answers!" 

"But,  grandmother " 

"  You  see  that  I  will  never  believe  that  any 
man  could  look  at  Bijou  gathering  flowers  and 
not  find  her  au  object  of  interest!" 

"Never!" 

"A  man — yes,  but  Monsieur  I'Abbe  is  not 
exactly  a  man." 

"Ah  !    What  is  he  then,  if  you  please?" 

"Dear  me!    A  priest  is  not " 

"  He  is  not  a  man  to  do  stupid  things — no! 
at  least  I  prefer  to  think  so.  But  he  has  eyes, 
a  priest,  all  the  same!    You  will  surely  agree 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  5 

that  if  he  has  not  the  eyes  of  a  man  he  at  least 
has  the  eyes  of  a  woman.  You  will  allow  your 
abb6  to  have  the  eyes  of  a  woman,  will  you 
not?" 

"  But,  grandmother,  I'm  not  preventing  him 
from  having  any  kind  of  eyes  he  pleases." 

"  Very  good!  '  Well,  any  woman  who  looks 
at  Bijou  can  see  that  she  is  delightful  to  be- 
hold. "Why  should  not  an  abbe  perceive  this 
fact  also?" 

"  Poor  abbe!    You  don't  like  him!" 

"I?  Oh!  You  know,  I  think,  that  priests 
are  made  for  churches,  not  for  homes.  With 
this  reservation  I  like  your  abbe  as  well  as 
other  abbes.  I  like  him  negatively.  I  respect 
him." 

Bertrade  began  to  laugh  and  said  in  caress- 
ing tones: 

""It  doesn't  look  like  it.  You  are  constantly 
tormenting  him." 

"  I  tease  him — as  I  tease  you  all." 

"  Yes,  but  we  are  used  to  it;  while  he " 

"Well,  I  shall  tease  him  no  more.  I  shall 
be  careful,  but  you  can't  imagine  how  much  it 
will  annoy  me — I  who  am  so  fond  of  freedom 
of  speech.  Such  an  absurd  idea  of  yours  to 
engage  an  abbe  for  your  children!" 

"It  was  Paul's.  He  was  most  anxious  that 
the  children  should  -^be  educated  by  a  priest — 
at  least  in  the  beginning.  He  is  very  relig- 
ious," 


6  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"But  I  also  am  very  religious,  and  that  is 
the  very  reason  why  I  would  never  have  had  a 
priest  for  a  tutor.  Yes.  If  he  is  an  intelli- 
gent man,  you  divert  for  the  benefit  of  one, 
two,  or  more  children,  but  in  point  of  fact  for  a 
small  number,  an  intellect  whose  professed 
occupation  and  whose  true  destiny  was  to  di- 
rect a  flock,  to  instruct,  to  pardon,  to  comfort 
creatures  who  in  the  majority  of  cases  are  more 
interesting  than  ourselves.  If  he  is  a  block- 
head he  will  devote  himself  to  conscientiously 
deforming  the  little  being  who  is  confided  to 
his  care.  And  in  either  case  you  are  respon- 
sible for  the  evil  that  you  do  or  the  good  that 
you  prevent  being  done.  Come!  let  me  look  at 
Bijou.  That  will  amuse  me  more  than  talking 
about  your  abbe!" 

And  the  marchioness  pointed  to  her  grand- 
daughter, who  was  coming  in  like  an  animated 
basket  of  flowers. 

Denyse  de  Courtaix,  nicknamed  Bijou,  was 
a  wonderful  little  creature,  lissome  and  slen- 
der, yet  withal  a  mass  of  dim'ples,  with  large 
violet  eyes,  limpid  and  deep;  a  straight  nose, 
slightly  turned  up  at  the  end;  a  tiny  mouth, 
very  red,  with  the  corners  gayly  raised,  show- 
ing the  short  teeth  of  a  milky  whiteness.  Her 
soft  and  silky  hair  was  of  that  blond  cendre, 
now  almost  a  thing  of  the  past.  Her  tiny  ears 
were  tinted  like  pink  mother-of-pearl.     These 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  7 

tints  not  only  reappeared  in  her  cheeks,  but  in 
her  forehead,  her  neck,  and  her  hands,  and 
their  bright  rosy  Ulster  irradiated  the  entire 
skin.  Her  dark,  delicately  penciled  eyebrows 
nearly  met  across  the  pure,  intelligent  fore- 
head; they  alone  indicated  that  this  frail  and 
pretty  creature  had  a  strong  will  of  her  own. 

Bijou,  who  appeared  to  be  about  fifteen  or 
•sixteen  years  old,  had  attained  her  majority 
eight  days  before,  but  her  whole  delicate  and 
dainty  person  exhaled  an  aroma  of  childhood 
and  spotless  purity.  Her  charm,  however,  so 
penetrating  and  subtle,  was  rather  that  of  a 
woman,  and  this  contrast  rendered  Bijou  per- 
plexing and  rare.  The  result  was  that  she 
turned  the  heads  of  the  men,  pleased  the  wom- 
en, and  was  adored  by  everybody. 

As  soon  as  she  entered  the  hall,  blooming  as 
a  rose  in  the  pinkish  cloud  of  her  muslin  gown, 
and  suspended  from  her  neck,  with  pink  rib- 
bons as  well,  a  sort  of  market-basket  overflow- 
ing with  roses,  every  one  surrounded  her, 
rejoicing  in  the  atmosphere  of  gayety  that  ac- 
companied her  and  that  pervaded  the  spacious 
hall,  somewhat  somber  and  empty  before  her 
advent. 

Paul  de  Rueille,  who  was  playing  billiards 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Henry  de  jBracieux, 
came  and  asked  for  a  rose  from  the  basket 
while  Henry  following  him  took  one  without 


8  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

asking.  The  little  De  Eueilles,  abandoning 
the  abb6,  who  went  on  calling  off  the  lotto 
numbers  in  a  monotonous  tone,  made  one 
bound  toward  the  young  girl  and  hung  on  to 
her  with  all  their  strength.  Their  mother 
called  them  back. 

"  Do  let  Bijou  alone.    You  are  hurting  her!" 
"  Robert!  Marcel!  come  back  here!"  said  the 
abb6,  who  arose. 
Bijou  protested. 

"Oh,  no!    Let  them  alone.     I  like  it!" 
She  took  the  basket  off  from  her  neck  and 
went  and  placed  it  on  the  billiard-table,  then 
suddenly  stopping,  exclaimed : 

"  Ah!  no.     I  must  consider  the  carom." 
Henry  de  Bracieux  murmured  almost  with 
emotion : 

"  Isn't  she  lovely?  She  thinks  of  every- 
thing." 

"Come  and  kiss  me,  Bijou,"  said  the 
marchioness. 

Denyse  had  just  placed  her  basket  on  a 
divan.  She  selected  a  full-blown  rose  and  ran 
to  her  grandmother,  whom  she  kissed  re- 
peatedly, in  coaxing  child-like  fashion,  then 
offering  her  the  rose  exclaimed: 

"  It's  the  most  beautiful  of  them  all!" 
The  tones  of  her  voice  were  rather  high, 
perhaps,  but  young  r.nd  clear,  and  the  enun- 
ciation was  admirably  distinct. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  9 

"Have  you  seen  Pierrot?"  inquired  the 
marchioness. 

"  Pierrot  ?"  replied  Bijou,  pausing  as  if  to 
reflect.  "Oh!  yes,  I  have  seen  him.  He 
even  came  for  a  moment  to  help  me  pick  my 
flowers,  and  then  he  went  off  to  rejoin  his 
father,  who  is  shooting  rabbits  in  the  little 
woods." 

"  I  might  have  known  it.  That  child  never 
does  anything!" 

"  But,  grandmother,  this  is  his  vacation." 

"  Well,  granting  it  is  his  vacation,  it  is  none 
the  less  true  that  if  he  were  given  a  tutor,  it 
was  natural  that  he  should  work." 

"But  he  really  ought  to  have  a  little  rest 
once  in  awhile,  poor  Pierrot,  and  his  tutor 
also." 

' '  They  never  have  anything  else.  However, 
if  my  brother  knows  it  and  approves " 

"He  quite  approves  to-day,  for  it  was  he 
who  told  them  to  go  and  look  for  him  in  the 
woods." 

"Who  said  anything  about  ^/tem.?"  inquired 
the  old  woman  in  a  mocking  tone.  "Ah! 
was  the  tutor  also  picking  roses?" 

"Yes,"  said  Denyse  with  her  frank,  sweet 
smile  and  without  noticing  her  grandmother's 
sarcastic  tones,  "  he  was  picking  roses  too." 

The  marchioness  replied,  glancing  at  a  tall 
young  man  who  was  just  coming  in: 


10  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  It  probably  amused  him  more  than  shoot- 
ing rabbits,  for  if  he  went  to  join  your  uncle 
in  the  woods  he  didn't  stay  with  him  very 
long." 

"Surely,  no!"  said  Bijou,  in  surprise. 

Leaving  her  grandmother,  she  went  up  to 
the  young  man  and  said: 

"Didn't  you  find  my  uncle.  Monsieur 
Girand  ?" 

He  grew  very  red. 

"Yes,  mademoiselle — yes.  We  found  Mon- 
sieur de  Jonzae  quite  easily.  Only  I— I  had 
to  comeback  to  correct  Pierrot's  exercises." 

Wishing  to  explain,  doubtless,  his  coming 
into  the  hall,  he  continued,  with  a  slight 
embarrassment: 

"And — 1  came  to  see  if  I  had  left  my 
books  here.     I  thought — but  I  don't  see  them. " 

As  he  was  going  out,  without  taking  his 
eyes  off  of  Bijou,  the  marchioness,  with  an 
indulgent  and  amused  air,  called  him  back. 

"Are  you  not  going  to  stay  hei'e  and 
smoke.  Monsieur  Girand  ?  Is  there  any  hurry 
about  the  correction  of  those  exercises?" 

"No,  madarae,"  said  the  tutor  quickly, 
"  there  is  no  hurry  at  all." 

The  old  woman  leaned  over  to  Madame  de 
Rueille,  who  was  silently  working  on  an  ad- 
mirable piece  of  tapestry,  and  smilingly  ob- 
served to  her: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  11 

"  This  one  is  not  like  your  abb6." 

Bertrade  raised  her  pretty  head  and  replied 
seriously: 

"  No!" 

"  You  seem  to  pity  him." 

"  I  do  indeed." 

"And  why?" 

"  Because  this  nice  boy  who  came  here  fif- 
teen days  ago  as  gay  as  a  lark,  and  who  has 
made  himself  liked  by  us  all,  will  leave  here 
sad  and  unhappy,  with  his  heart  full  of  grief 
or  bitterness." 

"Oh,  you^  always  look  on  the  darkest  side. 
He  thinks  Bijou  is  a  little  love.  He  admires 
her — he  likes  to  be  near  her,  and  there  is  an 
end  of  it." 

"  You  know  very  well,  grandmother,  that 
Bijou  is  adorable,  and  so  attractive  that  every 
one  loses  his  head." 

Here  the  marchioness  drew  attention  to  her 
grandnephew  De  Blaye,  who  since  he  had  left 
the  window  seemed  unconscious  of  everything 
that  was  going  on  around  him,  and  rather  in- 
dignantly observed: 

"Everyone?  Not  every  one.  Look  at  Jean. 
He  is  as  blind  as  the  abbe." 

With  impassive  features,  motionless  in  his 
easy-chair,  Jean  de  Blaye  appeared  to  be 
dreaming,  with  a  far-off  look  in  his  eyes.  The 
young  woman  regarded  him  and  replied: 


1^  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"I  fear  it  is  a  feigned  blindness." 

"Oh,  nonsense,"  said  Madame  de  Bracieux, 
who  was  charmed  at  the  idea.  "You  think 
that  Bijou  could  interest  Jean  sufficiently  to 
make  him  forget  even  for  a  little  while  his 
amusements,  his  horses,  his  theaters,  his  stupid 
life?    Do  you  really  think  so?" 

"I  do." 

"Since  when?" 

"Just  now.  He  told  us  with  such  convic- 
tion that  he  didn't  care  to  be  reminded  of 
Paris  that  I  was  sure  that  he  meant  what  he 
said.  Then  I  asked  myself  what  could  have 
caused  him  to  forget  it.  I  searched — and  I 
have  found  out." 

"  Bijou?" 

"Exactly." 

"So  much  the  better  if  that  is  so;  but  it 
doesn't  appear  so  to  me.  He  doesn't  notice 
her." 

"When  he  is  observed." 

"  He  seems  sad — preoccupied." 

"  One  would  be,  naturally.  Jean  never  does 
things  by  halves.  If  he  falls  in  love — I  mean 
seriously — he  will  love  violently,  and  if  he  is 
violently  in  love  with  Bijou  or  perceives  that 
he  is  likely  to  be,  there  is  no  cause  for  rejoic- 
ing. He  cannot,  no  matter  how  much  he  may 
wish  to,  marry  Bijou,  can  he?  Not  only  be- 
cause he  is  her  cousin,  but  still  more,  as  he 
hasn't  the  requisite  fortune." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  13 

"  He  has  about  500,000  francs.  Bijou  has 
200,000,  to  which  I  shall  add  100,000— that 
makes  300,000;  total  between  them,  800,000 
francs." 

"  Well,  don't  you  see  that  Bijou  with  an  in- 
come of  80,000  francs " 

"No.  I  am  perfectly  sure  that  she  would 
think  that  quite  enough.  She  makes  her  own 
dresses — one  always  says  that,  but  in  this  case 
it  is  true.  She  is  industrious  and  clever  and 
understands  how  to  superintend  a  household 
wonderfully  well,  as  for  the  last  four  years  she 
has  looked  after  everything  both  here  and  in 
Paris.  But  I  am  the  one  who  could  never  re- 
sign myself  to  the  idea  of  a  mediocre  existence 
for  her,  and  that's  what  she  would  have  de- 
cidedly. God  forbid  that  she  should  go  and 
fall  in  love  with  Jean!" 

"Oh!  I  don't  think  it  at  all  likely!" 

"  For  the  creature  is  charming,  and  as  it 
appears  very  much  liked." 

■'  Very  much.  But  Bijou  is  so  flattered,  so 
surrounded,  so  adored  that  she  hasn't  much 
leisure  to  love  any  one  but  herself." 

"  And  then  she  is  such  a  child." 

And  the  marchioness  regarded  her  grand- 
daughter with  infinite  tenderness. 

Standing  near  the  billiard-table.  Bijou  was 
watching  the  game  and  laughing  and  teasing 
the  players.    A  few  steps  from  her,  motion- 


14  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

less,  the  young  professor  was  contemplating 
her  with  ecstatic  eye.  Suddenly  Jean  de  Blaye 
arose  quickly  and  with  an  irritated  air  walked 
to  the  door  that  opened  on  the  outside  stair- 
case. 

' '  Wait  a  moment !"  cried  Denyse.  ' '  Wait  till 
I  give  you  a  rose!" 

She  leaned  over  the  basket  and  picked  out  a 
yellow  rose  not  quite  half -blown,  and  came 
and  put  it  in  her  cousin's  button-hole. 

"  There!"  said  she,  drawing  back  with  a  sat- 
isfied smile,     ''  You  look  very  nice  now." 

Then  going  up  to  the  tutor  she  said,  with  a 
delightfully  graceful  and  kittenish  air: 

"Monsieur  Giraud,  will  you  have  a  rose 
too?" 

.  And  as,  overcome  and  almost  trembling,  the 
young  man  strove,  without  success,  to  put  the 
flower  in  his  button-hole,  she  took  it  away 
from  him  very  gently. 

' '  You  don't  know  how.  Let  me  arrange  it, 
will  you?" 

He  was  so  tall  that  to  reach  him  she  had  to 
stand  on  her  toes;  then  she  slipped  in  the 
flower  slowly,  with  extreme  care,  and  when 
she  had  finished,  sweetly  smiling  and  patting 
the  shining  lapel  of  the  poor  jacket,  now  quite 
destitute  of  form  or  color,  she  cried: 

"  There!     Now  it  is  perfectly  lovely!" 

Her  eyes  illumined  with  love,  the  marchion- 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  15 

ess  gazed  at  her  grandchild,  then  said  to  Ber- 
trade,  who  also  seemed  to  be  admiring  her 
cousin: 

"Ah!  isn't  she  perfectly  charming!" 

Madame  de  Rueille  looked  at  the  young 
tutor,  who,  quite  pale,  had  remained  standing 
in  the  middle  of  the  hall,  and  answered  sadly: 

"Poor  boy!" 

"Again?  Why,  really,  Monsieur  Giraud 
seems  to  interest  you  a  good  deal!" 

"He  does.  I  have  a  leaning  to  sad,  sensi- 
tive natures,  as  I  chance  to  be  cheerful." 

"Oh!  you  are  cheerful,  are  you?  You  have 
just  said  that  Jean's  blindness  was  feigned. 
Well,  I  consider  that  your  cheerfulness  is 
equally  feigned — cheerful  when  you  are  ob- 
served!" 

Without  answering,  the  young  woman  glanced 
at  Bijou. 

"She  is  really  gay  and  cheerful.  Look  at 
her,  grandmother!" 

Bijou  having  divided  some  of  the  flowers 
among  the  children,  turned  to  the  Abbe  Cour- 
teil  and  said: 

"1  want  to  decorate  you,  too.  Monsieur 
I'Abbe.  Look!  Now,  isn't  this  a  beautiful 
rose?  Ah!  there  never  was  one  more  beauti- 
ful." 

And  she  handed  him  a  huge  thorny,  thickly 
leaved  rose,  resembling  a  cabbage. 


16  BIJOU'S  COUllTSUIP. 

The  abb6,  who  had  arisen  and  was  still  hold- 
ing the  bag  containing  the  lotto  counters,  drew 
back  in  alarm  and  murmured  brokenly: 

"  Mademoiselle,  it  is  a  superb  flower,  only  I 
shouldn't  know  where  to  put  it.  The  button- 
hole in  my  cassock  is  very  small.  The  stem 
would  never  fit  in  it.  I  am  very  grateful  to 
you,  mademoiselle — I  am  very  much  touched — 
but  there  is  no  place  for  it. " 

She  laughed  and  answered: 

"There  is  a  place  in  your  belt.  Monsieur 
I'Abbe — there — see.  One  would  say  that  it 
was  made  for  it!" 

Standing  far  back,  she  pushed  the  long  stem 
of  the  flower  into  the  belt  of  the  cassock.  He 
bowed  awkwardly,  and  trying  to  express  his 
gratitude  exclaimed: 

''  I  thank  you,  mademoiselle,  for  your  kind- 
ness. I  am  very  much  touched — very  much 
touched  indeed." 

Every  movement  caused  the  rose  to  droop 
over  the  belt,  that  was  much  too  lose  and  limp 
for  it,  so  that  it  bobbed  up  and  down  absurd- 
ly, standing  out  in  bold  relief  against  the  cas- 
sock, which  hung  in  spiral  curves  around  the 
abbe's  meager  form. 

"When  she  had  decorated  everybody  Bijou 
declared: 

"  Now  T  am  going  to  arrange  my  baskets." 

"  Where?"  asked  Monsieur  de  Rueille. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  17 

"  Why,  in  the  dining-room,  in  the  drawing- 
room,  in  the  vestibule — here,  everywhere!" 

Several  voices  cried : 

"  We  are  going  to  help  you!" 

"Oh!  indeed  you're  not.  Instead  of  help- 
iiUT  rne  you  will  only  bother  me  awfully!" 

She  took  up  her  basket  again  and  went  out, 
gay  and  rosy  in  the  flying  cloud  of  her  skirts, 
as  rosy  as  herself.  And  when  she  had  disap- 
peared a  veil  of  sadness  fell  over  the  large 
hall.  No  one  spoke.  Nothing  could  be  heard 
but  the  clicking  of  the  balls  and  the  rustling 
of  the  counters,  which  the  abbe  was  still  shak- 
ing methodically,  observing  system  in  this  as 
in  everything.  At  last  Henry  de  Bracieux 
said: 

"Grandmother,  you  ought  never  to  allow 
Bijou  to  drop  us  like  that,  particularly  at 
Bracieux,  because  at  Paris  one  can  manage; 
but  here  when  she  leaves  us  we  are  lost.  She 
is  the  sunbeam  that  illumines  all  the  house." 

The  marchioness  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"You  are  talking  nonsense.  You  forget 
that  before  long  Bijou  will  '  drop '  us,  as  you 
so  elegantly  express  it,  for  good  and  all." 

"  What!  is  she  going  to  be  married?" 

"Dear  me!     I  hope  so." 

"Have  you  any  one  in  view?"  asked  Mon- 
sieur de  Pvueille,  with  an  air  of  displeasure. 

"No,  no  one  at  all.    But,  then,  some  one 


18  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

may  present  himself  any  day.     No  one  here 
would  answer  for   Bijou,  but  it  is  likely  that 

in  Paris  this  winter " 

Henry  de  Bracieux,  a  handsome  youth  of 
twenty-five,  who  strongly  resembled  his  sister 
Bortrade,  listened  with  contracted  brows  and 
a  serious  face.  He  missed  making  an  easy 
carOm,  and  as  his  brother-in-law  expressed 
some  surprise  he  exclaimed: 

"Ah,  yut!  It  is  too  hot  to  play  billiards.  I 
am  going  to  sleep  in  the  hammock." 

His  sister  looked  at  him  as  he  went  out  and 
fiiurmured  in  the  marchioness'  ear: 

"He,  too!" 

The  old  woman  replied  with  some  vexation: 

"  Bijou  cannot  very  well  marry  all  the 
family.  But  we  must  stop  talking — here 
she  is!" 

And  in  fact  the  delicate  outline  of  the 
young  girl's  figure  appeared  at  the  door  which 
opened  on  the  exterior  staircase.  Without 
entering  she  asked: 

"How  many  people  for  dinner  on  Friday, 
grandmother?" 

"  Dear  me!  I  haven't  counted  them.  There 
are  the  La  Balues " 

"  That  makes  four." 

"  The  Jugencourts " 

"Six." 

"  Little  Bernfes— ^" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  19 

"Seven." 

"  Madame  de  Nezel " 

"Eight." 

"  That's  all." 

"  And  we  are  ten,  to  begin  with.  That 
makes  eighteen.  We  might  have  twenty. 
Will  you  invite  the  Dubuissons,  grandmother? 
It  will  give  me  so  much  pleasure  to  have 
Jeanne." 

"  I  should  like  nothing  better.  I'll  go  and 
write  to  them  now." 

,"It  isn't  worth  while.  I  have  to  go  to' 
Pout-sur-Loire  for  some  shopping,  and  I  will 
invite  them. " 

"What!  my  poor  little  dear!  You  are  go- 
ing to  town  in  all  this  heat?" 

"I  really  ought  to  see  about  the  dinner. 
To-day  is  Tuesday,  and  then  I  have  to  see 
Mother  Eaf ut  and  engage  her  for  several  days. 
I  have  no  gowns,  and  there  are  the  races,  the 
balls " 

"  Oh!"  said  the  marchioness,  with  some 
annoyance,  "  are  you  going  to  have  that  horrid 
old  woman  here  again?" 

"  She  is  such  an  honest  woman  and  she  does 
such  good  work. " 

"Possibly;  but  I  don't  like  her  looks." 

"Oh,  grandmother,  it  is  true  that  she  isn't 
pretty,  but  Mother  Rafut  is  old  and  poor. 
One  doesn't  make  much  money  when  one  is  a 


20  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

dresser  at  the  Pont-sur-Loire  theater  at  night 
and  goes  out  sewing  by  the  day  to  some  of  the 
houses  in  town.  Old  age  and  poverty  do  not 
improve  one's  looks.  And  then  she  suits  me 
so  well;  and  as  she  is  very  badly  paid  by  the 
actresses,  or  not  paid  at  all,  she  is  so  happy 
to  be  here,  well  paid,  well  fed,  and  well 
treated." 

She  was  standing  behind  Madame  de 
Bracieux's  easy -chair,  and  she  added  coax- 
ingly,  winding  her  pretty  pink  arms  around 
her  neck: 

"It  is  a  charity,  grandmother — an  act  of 
charity,  not  only  to  Mother  Kafut,  but  to  me." 

The  marchioness  replied: 

"  You  may  have  your  frightful  old  woman 
— have  her  as  long  as  you  please!" 

"  Then  an  I'evoi?',  a  tantotP'' 

"  How  are  you  going  down  there — in  the 
victoria?" 

"  No— in  the  village  cart.  I  shall  go  more 
quickly.  I  can  go  in  the  village  cart  in  twenty- 
five  minutes." 

"  And  you  are  going  to  drive  ?" 

"  Why,  yes,  grandmother." 

"  In  this  heat  ?  You  will  have  a  sunstroke!" 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  then  proposed: 

"Would  you  like  me  to  drive  you,  Bijou? 
I  have  to  buy  some  tobacco,  some  powder,  and 
two  fishing-rods  to  replace  those  that  Pierrot 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  21 

has  broken.  I  shall  be  delighted  to  go  to 
town." 

*' And  I  enchanted  to  have  you  drive  me." 

"  When  shall  we  leave  ?" 

"  At  once,  if  you  please  !" 

As  they  were  going  out  the  marchioness 
cried  after  them: 

"Don't  go  too  fast  down  the  hills  !  Take 
care  not  to  have  any  accidents  !" 

And  Bijou  answered  laughingly: 

"  Don't  worry,  grandmother.  Nothing  ever 
happens  to  me  1" 


22  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 


n. 

As  they  were  driving  through  Pont-sur- 
Loire  that  evening  on  their  return  to  Bracieux, 
Monsieur  de  Rueille  said  to  Denyse: 

"  Well,  do  you  know,  my  little  Bijou,  that 
one  does  not  pass  unnoticed  when  one  is  with 
you  ?    Ah,  no,  indeed  !" 

She  looked  at  the  passers-by,  who  were 
turning  around  to  gaze  after  her  with  manifest 
interest,  and  replied: 

"  It  is  my  pink  gown  that " 

"  No,  it  isn't  your  gown  at  all.  They  are 
looking  at  you  !" 

Her  large  violet  eyes  opened  still  wider  as 
she  asked: 

"At  me?     But  why?" 

"  Oh  !  little  Bijou,  it  isn't  right  for  you  to 
try  to  deceive  your  old  cousin!" 

With  a  still  more  mystified  air  she  ques- 
tioned : 

"I  try  to  deceive?" 

"  Dame  !  It  looks  like  it !  It  isn't  possible 
that  you  don't  know  how  pretty  you  are  ?  In 
the  first  place,  you  have  eyes  Then  they  tell 
you  often  enough  for " 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  )iS 

"They  tell  me?  Who  do  you  mean  tells 
me?" 

"  Why,  everybody  !  Even  I,  vi'ho  am  almost 
your  uncle,  and  also  almost  venerable." 

"  'Almost  my  uncle,'  no,  as  Bertrode  hap- 
pens to  be  my  fii-st  cousin;  and  as  to  being 
'almost  venerable '  " 

She  stopped  a  moment  and  burst  out  laugh- 
ing. 

"  You  flatter  yourself." 

"  Alas  !  no  !    I  am  nearly  forty- two." 

She  regarded  him  with  a  surprised  air  and 
said: 

"Dear  me!    You  don't  look  it!" 

"Thank  you!  There!  Do  j'ou  see  how  all 
the  natives  are  staring  at  you?  I  can  assure 
you.  Bijou,  that  when  I  come  here  by  myself 
to  do  my  shopping  they  don't  look  at  me  with 
so  much  eagerness." 

"But  I  tell  you  it  is  the  pink  gown  that 
astonishes  them." 

"^Why  should  it  astonish  them?  You  often 
come  to  Pont-sur-Loire  and  you  are  always  in 
pink." 

Since  she  had  left  off  mourning  for  her 
parents,  who  had  been  dead  for  four  years, 
Denyse  had  always  worn  pink.  She  said  it 
was  because  her  grandmother  liked  to  see  her 
in  it.  In  any  case,  a  very  faint,  delicate  pink, 
the  sort  of  fallen-rose-leaf   effect   that   she 


24  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

always  wore  and  that  was  precisely  the  tint  of 
her  skin,  was  wonderfully  becoming  to  her. 
In  damp  or  cold  weather  she  always  wore  long 
dark  cloaks  that  entirely  concealed  her  figure, 
and  when  she  emergnd  from  these  somber 
coverings,  rosy  and  fresh  as  a  flower,  she  dif- 
fused an  atmosphere  of  light  and  radiance. 
Her  gowns  were  of  batiste,  muslin,  and  wool, 
materials  comparatively  cheap.  The  most 
that  she  ever  permitted  herself  was  some  little 
taffetas  or  foulard.  And  what  simplicity  of 
form!  Always  the  same  little  pleated  blouses, 
the  same  plain  skirts;  never  the  slightest 
ornament,  hardly  even  in  winter  some  light 
little  cape  of  fur. 

After  appearing  to  reflect  for  a  moment 
she  said: 

"You  are  right!  I  always  do  wear  pink. 
Do  you  think  it  is  ugly?" 

"  Ugly?  Great  heavens!  I  think  it  is  most 
fascinating.  I  repeat.  Bijou,  that  if  I  were  not 
such  an  old  man  I  should  be  making  love  to 
you  all  the  time!" 

"You  are  not  an  old  man!" 

"  Thank  you  again.  But  if  you  don't  think 
I  am  exactly  an  old  man,  which  in  fact  is  open 
to  dispute,  at  least  I  am  a  married  man." 

"That  is  true,  and  so  much  the  better  for 
you;  for  there  are  no  men  more  stupid  and 
annoying  than  those  who  make  love." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  25 

**  Then  you  must  see  a  fearful  lot  of  stupid 
and  annoying  people." 

"Why?" 

"Because  every  one  makes  love  to  you, 
more  or  less." 

"  Why,  no.  Think  for  a  moment.  I  have 
been  isolated  like  a  savage;  for  while  papa  and 
mamma  were  alive  they  were  always  ill  and  I 
was  shut  up  with  them,  never  seeing  a  soul, 
and  it  isn't  quite  four  years  now  since  I  have 
seen  any  people." 

"  Oh,  yes.  Quite  enough  of  them,  I  should 
say." 

"  One  would  think  that  it  displeased  you." 

She  glanced  sideways  at  Rueille,  her  eyes 
gleaming  between  the  half-closed  lids,  while 
he  answered,  growing  rather  nervous  despite 
his  efforts: 

"Displeased  me?  And  why?  Have  I  any- 
thing to  do  with  your  life?  Have  I  any  au- 
thority where  you  are  concerned?" 

"  Which  means  that  if  you  had  any  author- 
ity?" 

"Well,  it  is  true  there  are  many  changes 
and  reforms  I  should  make — that  I  should 
advise,  I  mean  to  say." 

"For  example?" 

"  For  instance,  I  would  not  allow  you,  if  I 
were  your  grandmother,  to  be  so  charming — 
so  gracious  to  every  one.     I  should  like  to  keep 


26  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

you  for  myself  a  little  more — to  prevent  you 
from  giving  so  much  of  yourself  to  strangers." 

Thoughtfully  and  almost  sadly  she  replied: 

"  Well,  perhaps  you  are  right." 

*'  Particularly  as  we  shall  have  you  to  our- 
selves for  so  short  a  time." 

Her  great,  sweet,  innocent  eyes  stared  at 
Paul  de  Rueille,  who  resumed: 

"  You  will  marry  soon — you  will  leave 
us " 

Bijou  began  to  laugh. 

"  How  you  go  on!  There  is  no  question  of 
my  marrying  at  present  that  I  know  of." 

"  None,  in  fact.  At  least  I  don't  think  so. 
But  on  principle  that  is  the  all-important 
question,  and  grandmother  thinks  of  nothing 
else." 

"  Oh,  yes!  But  then  I  am  not  like  her,  for 
I  myself  never  think  of  it  at  all." 

She  added,  suddenly  growing  serious: 

*'  Besides,  my  marriage  is  problematical." 

•'  Problematical?" 

*'^  Mon  Dieu,  yes.  In  the  first  place,  I  wish 
to  be  married  by  a  person  who  cares  for  me." 

"Well,  don't  worry.  You  won't  have  any 
trouble  about  that." 

She  concluded,  and  her  clear  voice  grew 
almost  grave: 

*'  I  should  also  like  to  care  for  him." 

"  You  will  care  for  him.  One  always  likes 
one's  husband,  and  he  will  be  happy." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  27 

"  Who  do  you  mean?" 

"  The  man  whom  you  will  love." 

"  I  hope  so.  I  should  do  my  best  to  make 
him  so." 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  seemed  irritated  and 
cross,  and  said,  as  if  he  wished  to  discourage 
this  dream  of  Deuyse: 

"  Yes,  but  suppose  you  should  never  meet 
such  a  person?" 

"  Well,  then,  I  should  '  dress  Saint  Cather- 
ine's hair;'  that's  all  there  is  about  it.  But  I 
don't  see  why  I  shouldn't  meet  him.  I  don't 
ask  for  impossibilities,  after  all. " 

In  a  teasing  and  rather  agressive  tone 
Rueille  replied: 

"  Is  it  indiscreet  to  ask  what  you  desire?" 

"Oh!  not  the  least  in  the  world,  for  I  can 
only  tell  you  what  I  have  said  before — '  I  wish 
to  love  him. '  Truly.  I  don't  care  for  money. 
I  neither  understand  nor  do  I  care  for 
money." 

She  turned  toward  her  cousin,  and  looking 
him  straight  in  the  face  ended  by  saying: 

"And  so,  do  you  see,  I  could  very  well 
make  such  a  marriage  as  Bertrode's." 

"  With  another  husband?"  he  murmured. 

Without  the  least  embarrassment  she  an- 
swered sweetly  and  unafifectedly,  her  face 
wreathed  in  smiles: 

"  Why,  no!  Why,  no!  I  think  the  husband 
is  good  enough." 


^8  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  did  not  reply.  He  was 
affected  despite  himself  by  the  thought  that 
Bijou  could  have  loved  him.  He  found  the 
evening  air  delicious,  and  never  had  tlie  rays 
of  the  setting  sun  slowly  sinking  into  the  Loire 
appeared  to  him  more  luminous.  The  little 
cart  was  so  narrow  that  each  vibration  caused 
his  elbow  to  brush  the  young  girl's  arm,  while 
the  locks  of  her  fine  blond  hair  that  had 
escaped  from  the  large  straw  hat  swept  his 
burning  cheek. 

Bijou  perceived  his  preoccupation  and 
laughingly  observed: 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  you  are  not  listening 
much  to  the  description  of  my  '  ideal.' " 

"Why,  yes!" 

"Why,  no!  That  reminds  me:  have  we 
executed  all  our  commissions?" 

She  took  a  long  list  from  her  pocket  and  be- 
gan to  read  it  over: 

"  Ices. 

"  Little   cakes. 

"Fish. 

"The  Dubuissons. 

"  Speak  to  the  butcher. 

"  Pink  gauze. 

"  Mother  Rafut. 

"  Hat. 

' '  Pierrot's  books, 

"  Henry's  cartridges." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP,  <jy 

Monsieur  de  Rueille,  who  was  looking  over 
the  list,  asked: 

'"What!  Henry  asked  you  to  bring  back  his 
cartridges  instead  of  speaking  to  me  about 
it?" 

"Yes.  The  time  before  last  you  forgot 
them,  and  the  last  time  you  brought  him  12 
caliber  cartridges  when  he  wanted  16.  So  he 
preferred " 

"I  understand.  But  they  impose  upon 
you,  and  the  children  have  imposed  on  you 
too — 'Marcel's  balloon' — 'pencils  for  Robert.' 
Fred  is  the  only  one  who  hasn't  given  you  any 
commissions.  But  you  mustn't  despair — he  is 
only  three  years  old.  You  will  have  them 
next  year." 

"  He  didn't  give  me  any  commissions,  but  I 
have  brought  him  some  pictures — '  Puss  in 
Boots.'  He  adores  cats — this  will  amuse 
him." 

"  How  delightful  you  are!" 

"Delightful?  Is  that  saying  quite  enough? 
Couldn't  you  think  of  something  a  little  more 
eulogistic?  Let  us  see — if  you  were  to  try 
hard?" 

She  went  on  looking  over  the  list. 

Paul  de  Rueille  pointed  with  the  handle  of 
his  whip  to  a  line  written  in  pencil  and 
asked: 

"What  is  that — 'Tell  grandmother  that  La 
Norini^re?" 


30  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Oh!  I  .met  the  Juzncourts,  and  they 
begged  me  particularly  to  tell  grandmother 
that  La  Noriniere  is  going  to  be  occupied." 

"Ah!     Clagny  has  sold  it?" 

"No,  but  he  is  coming  back.  It  appears 
that  he  intends  coming  here  every  summer. " 

"Ah!  So  much  the  better.  This  is  going 
to  give  your  grandmother  a  great  deal  of 
pleasui'e. " 

"  Yes.  She  likes  him  so  much.  I  don't 
know  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  but  I  have  very 
often  heard  him  spoken  of." 

"Don't  you  remember  seeing  him  for- 
merly?" 

"Why,  no." 

*'  He  was  your  godfather,  however." 

"  You  are  dreaming.  Uncle  Alexis  was  my 
godfather." 

"  Uncle  Jonzas  is  the  godfather  of  Denyse, 
but  Monsieur  de  Clagny  is  the  godfather  of 
'Bijou.'  Yes,  it  was  he  who,  when  you  were 
quite  little,  used  to  say  in  speaking  of  you, 
'the  bijou,'  and  the  name  suited  you  so  well 
that  it  has  clung  to  you." 

"  Don't  you  think  that  it  is  rather  ridicu- 
lous to  call  me  Bijou  now  that  I  am  old?" 

"  You  look  as  if  you  were  fourteen,  and  you 
always  will,  I  can  promise  you." 

' '  Are  you  not  going  a  little  too  far,  per- 
haps?" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  JJl 

She  looked  at  him  and  laughed.  He  also 
gazed  at  her,  unable  to  look  away  from  the 
fresh,  pretty  face  that  was  turned  toward  him, 
and  as  he  was  paying  no  attention  to  the  short 
cut  in  the  road,  which  was  in  a  very  bad  con- 
dition, the  right  wheel  stuck  in  a  rut  and  the 
little  cart  half  fell  over,  throwing  Denyse  on 
top  of  him,  who  hung  on  to  him  with  all  the 
strength  of  her  arm.  They  remained  suspended 
for  a  moment,  when  the  wheel  worked  its  way 
out  as  well  as  it  could  of  the  deep  hole  where 
it  had  stuck,  and  the  horse  resumed  his  rapid 
pace. 

"  Ouf !"  said  Bijou,  who  was  laughing  with 
all  her  might.  "  I  really  thought  that  we 
were  going  to  tip  over!" 

He  replied  quite  seriously: 

"  We  very  nearly  did." 

She  loosened  her  little  fingers,  that  had  been 
buried  in  her  cousin's  shoulder,  and  asked: 

"  Have  you  really  finished?  I  hope  you  are 
not  going  to  begin  again." 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  regarded  her  without 
answering,  preoccupied  and  unnerved,  and 
she  resumed : 

"  But  instead  of  looking  at  me,  look  sti-aight 
before  you  or  we  shall  get  caught  in  another 
rut.     You  see  if  we  don't." 

But  he  only  murmured  in  a  low  tone: 

"Why,  no — why,  no." 


3^  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

He  spoke  as  if  he  were  dreaming,  and  Bijou 
said: 

*'I  bet  that  we  shall  be  late  for  dinner,  and 
you  know  grandmother  doesn't  like  it." 

Eueille  with  his  whip  lightly  touched  the 
pony  on  the  shoulder,  which  made  him  leap 
forward  and  then  break  into  a  mad  gallop. 

Bijou  now  seemed  confounded. 

"What  on  eartli,"  questioned  she,  "is  the 
matter  with  you  to-day?  A  moment  ago  you 
nearly  tipped  us  over,  and  now  you  are  touch- 
ing Colonel  with  the  whip,  when  you  shouldn't 
even  let  him  think  that  you  had  any." 

She  added,  seeing  that  the  horse  was  quiet- 
ing down: 

"  Or  very  nearly.  You're  not  yourself  at 
all." 

He  replied  mechanically: 

"No,  I  am  not  myself." 

At  the  first  jump  of  the  pony  Denyse  had 
again  seized  Monsieur  de  Rueille's  arm.  Not 
that  she  was  the  least  in  the  world  afraid,  but 
because,  seated  on  the  little  bench  that  was  too 
high  for  her,  she  had  no  security  and  tried  to 
hang  on  to  something  firm.  Leaning  toward 
her  cousin,  she  asked  with  interest: 

"Not  yourself?  What  is  the  matter  with 
you?    Are  you  ill?" 

"lU?    No!" 

"  For  you  mustn't  be  ill.    We  have  to  work 


BIJOU»S  COURTSHIP.  33 

on  the  review  this  evening,  and  if  you  don't 
try  your  best  it  will  never  be  finished  in  time 
for  the  race  ball." 

"I  am  getting  a  little  tired  of  the  review, 
and  if  I  were  you '' 

He  stopped  short,  embarrassed,  and  Bijou 
asked: 

"What?  What  is  it?  You  were  going  to 
say  something  ?" 

"  Yes,  in  fact  I  wanted  to  tell  you  that  the 
design  that  Jean  has  made  for  your — for  the 
costume  of  Hebe " 

"Well?" 

"Well,  this  costume  isn't  sufficiently 
draped." 

"But  it  is." 

"  Come,  now!  Ought  a  woman — a  young  girl 
like  you  to  appear  like  that  ?  Why,  it  isn't 
nice." 

Bijou  regarded  Paul  de  Rueille  with  an 
amazed  air.     Then  laughing  in  his  face  cried : 

"Oh!  How  funny  you  are!  You  act  ex- 
actly like  a  jealous  husband!" 

He  murmured,  vexed  and  ill  at  ease: 

"Jealous?  I  have  no  right  to  be  jealous. 
I " 

"  Of  course!  But  without  being  jealous  you 
men  don't  like  that  a  woman  should  seem 
pretty  or  graceful  or  amusing  to  any  one  but 
yourselves." 


34  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Well,  admitting  that  such  is  the  case,  it's 
natural  enough." 

"You  think  so?  ^Yell,  a  woman,  on  the 
contrary,  is  glad  to  have  the  men  whom  she 
likes  admired.  It  pleases  her  to  see  them 
please  others." 

'■'■Turlittutu!  You  don't  know  what  you're 
talking  about." 

They  remained  for  a  moment  without  saying 
a  word,  she  tranquil  and  smiling,  he  serious 
and  troubled.  Just  as  the  carriage  was  enter- 
ing the  avenue  Bijou  turned  to  Monsieur  de 
Rueille,  and  touching  him,  this  time  very 
gently,  with  her  soft  hand,  she  said,  in  a  pene- 
trating voice,  which  completely  upset  him: 

"Since  it  displeases  you  so  much  I  won't 
wear  that  costume.  We  will  make  Jean  design 
another." 

He  seized  the  hand  that  was  leaning  on  his 
arm  and  pressed  it  violently  to  his  lips. 

Bijou  appeared  not  to  observe  the  transport 
and  only  said,  drawing  back  her  hand,  while 
between  her  lashes  there  shone  a  strange  light: 

"Look  out  for  the  gate.  There's  a  sharp 
turn,  you  know.     You  are  not  in  luck  to-day!" 

Then  she  began  quietly  to  gather  up  all  her 
little  parcels,  and  until  they  reached  the  castle 
remained  silent  and  absorbed. 

The  first  dinner-gong  was  sounding.  Bijou 
ran  up  to  her  room,  and  ten  minutes  after- 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  35 

ward  she  entered  the  drawing-room  perfectly 
dressed  in  a  fresh  gown  of  rose-leaf  chiffon, 
and  on  the  shoulders  a  large  bunch  of  roses. 

"  What!  Here  already,"  said  Madame  de 
Rueille  in  admiration.  "  I  bet  that  child  Paul 
isn't  ready  yet." 

"  Have  you  executed  all  your  commissions?" 
inquired  the  marchioness. 

"Yes,  grandmother,  and  I  have  a  message 
for  you.  The  Jurzancourts  charged  me  to 
tell  you  that  Monsieur  de  Clagny  is  coming 
back  to  live  at  Noriniere  and  that  he  will  come 
every  year." 

"Oh!"  said  Madame  de  Bracieux  with  a 
thoroughly  pleased  air — "  oh!  that  gives  me  a 
great  deal  of  pleasure.  I  never  hoped  to  see 
him  back  in  this  country." 

"Why?"  inquired  Bijou. 

' '  Because  he  had  a  great  sorrow  here,  at  an 
age  when  painful  impressions  are  never  ef- 
faced." 

"At  what  age,  aunt?"  said  Jean  de  Blaye 
rather  sarcastically. 

"Forty-eight.  You  will  be  less  of  a  cynic 
at  that  age,  my  boy,  and  you  will  reach  it 
sooner  than  you  think." 

"So  much  the  better,"  he  answered  smil- 
ingly. "  It  ought  to  be  the  ideal  age — the  age 
when  the  heart  slumbers." 

"It    slumbers  sooner  sometimes,"  replied 


36  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

the  marchioness  sarcastically,  regarding  her 
nephew : 

Jean  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  observed: 

"Yes,  but  it  wakes  again.  Or,  it,  maybe 
reawaken.  One  can  never  be  sure,  while  at 
forty-eight." 

"  You  think  so  ?  My  old  friend  Clagny  was 
forty-eight  years  old  twelve  years  ago,  so 
he  must  be  sixty  now.  Well,  I  wager  that 
his  heart  has  neve"  slumbered — never.  Do 
you  understand  ?" 

Jean  began  to  laugh  and  exclaimed: 

"■^  Bigre!  "^jy,  he  is  a  phenomenon,  your 
friend.  He  '^'ould  make  a  good  deal  of  money 
by  exhibiting  himself." 

"  He  has  no  need  of  it." 

"Is  he  rich?" 

"Awfully." 

'  *  How  rici.    ■ 

"Four  hundred  thousand  a  year.  Don't 
you  think  that  is  nice  ?" 

"  Yes,  decidedly  nice  for  anyone  who  hasn't 
stolen  it." 

Then  he  inquired : 

"  What  was  this  great  t:rief  that  he  had  ?" 

"  I  will  tell  you  when  Bijou  isn't  here." 

Bijou,  however,  couldn't  have  heard  any- 
thing. She  was  playing  with  Pierrot,  who 
had  just  come  in,  and  was  trying  to  part  his 
hair  for  him. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  37 

Pierrot,  a  great  overgrown  boy  of  seventeen 
and  a  vigorous  youth  who  had  shot  up  too 
quickly,  with  long  feet,  long  hands,  and  a 
forehead  covered  with  unnatural  bumps,  was 
stooping  over  so  that  the  young  girl  could  reach 
up  to  his  bushy  acd  lusterless  locks.  With  his 
neck  stretched  for'vard  and  a  vague  look  in 
his  eyes  he  seemed  to  be  enjoying  the  soft 
touch  of  her  small,  skillful  fingers. 

Suddenly  Denyse  turnevi  toward  the  mar- 
chioness and  exclaimed: 

"Grandmother,  I  had  forgotten — the  Du- 
buissons  cannot  come  to  dinnei  n  Thursday, 
but  Monsieur  Dubuisson  will  briug  Jeane  on 
Friday  and  leave  her  here  for  eight  days." 

"  Then  we  are  only  eighteen  for  dinner." 

"We  are  still  twenty,  because  I  saw  the 
Ivurielles  and  I  asked  them  for  you.  I  thought 
that " 

"  You  did  perfectly  right." 

"  Oh  !"  said  Bertrode,  "  the  Ivurielles  with 
the  Juzencourts!  Now  we  shall  be  bored  with 
stories  of  William  the  Conqueror  and  Charles 
the  Bold." 

Bijou  cried  out  laughingly: 

"So  much  the  better.  In  that  way  we 
shall  at  least  only  hear  them  once." 

Just  as  they  were  announcing  dinner  Mon- 
sieur de  Rueille  entered,  with  a  preoccupied 
air  and  shining  eyes.  Silently  he  seated  him- 
self at  the  table  and  sat  there  without  a  word. 


38  BIJOU'S  COURTSUIP. 


III. 


In  the  hall  Bijou,  aided  by  Pierrot,  was 
serving  the  coffee.  Suddenly  she  darted  away 
in  pursuit  of  Paul  de  Rueille,  who  had  just 
gone  out  of  the  drawing-room  and  was  going 
down  the  terrace  stairs. 

"Well!  well!  Where  are  you  going  now?" 
cried  she. 

He  answered  without  stopping: 

"  Why,  to  take  a  little  walk  and  to  breathe, 
if  it  is  possible,  in  such  heat." 

Bijou  had  already  joined  him. 

"Ah!  but  no.  There's  the  review.  You 
must  come  and  work." 

"  I  have  a  headache." 

"  It  will  cure  you.  You  must  come,  posi- 
tively. We  haven't  more  than  three  days 
now." 

"But,"  said  Rueille,  irritated,  "I  am  not 
indispensable." 

"Oh,  nonsense!  You  are  the  one  who 
writes." 

"  Under  dictation.  To  do  that  doesn't  re- 
quire an  adept." 

"  Yes!    We  are  used  to  you." 

She  was  standing  on  the  step  above  him, 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  39 

and  leaning  over  she  threw  her  arms  around 
his  neck  and  entreated  him  coaxingly. 

"  My  little  Paul,  come,  to  give  me  pleasure. 
It  would  be  so  nice  of  you — so  nice!" 

Monsieur  de  Eueille  quickly  unwound  the 
soft,  fresh  arms  and  answered  in  a  harsh 
voice: 

"  Very  well!    Very  well!    I'll  come!" 

The  young  girl  drew  back,  and  he  could  see 
her  great,  surprised  eyes  shining  in  the  clear 
night.     Then  she  said  timidly: 

"  How  rough  you  are!  What  is  the  matter 
with  you?" 

As  he  did  not  answer  she  insisted: 

"  Won't  you  tell  me?" 

"  Ah!  no,"  said  he  dryly. 

And  going  up  the  stairs  he  entered  the 
drawing-room.  Bijou  going  in  directly  be- 
hind him  said  to  Bertrode: 

•'  I  don't  know  what  is  the  matter  with  your 
husband.     He's  a  perfect  porcupine!" 

Madame  de  Rueille  looked  at  Paul,  who  with 
a  drawn  face  and  nervous  air  was  affecting  to 
talk  and  laugh  noisily  with  the  tutor,  who  re- 
mained, however,  reticent  and  silent.  And 
after  having  looked  she  replied,  somewhat 
anxious  about  her  husband's  strange  manner: 

"  Something  is  surely  the  matter  with  him, 
but  I  don't  know  what." 

But  Bijou,  recurring  to  her  first  idea,  ex- 
claimed: 


40  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Just  imagine— Paul  wanted  to  go  and 
take  a  walk  instead  of  working!  Ah!  didn't  I 
have  a  time  getting  him  to  come  in!" 

Kesigned  to  his  fate,  Monsieur  de  Eueille 
had  seated|himself  at  a  marble-topped  Empire 
table.  He  took  up  the  manuscript,  opened  it 
where  he  had  left  off,  and  said,  dipping  a  long 
quill  pen  into  the  ink: 

"  Whenever  you're  ready." 

"But  in  the  first  place  where  are  you?" 
inquired  Monsieur  de  Jonzac. 

"  At  scene  third  of  the  second  act." 

"  Still  ?"  said  Bijou  in  astonishment. 

"Alas!  still." 

"My  dear  grandchildren,  you  will  never 
finish  it,"  said  the  marchioness  conclusively. 

"Why,  yes!  Why,  yes,  grandmother!"  said 
Bijou  gayly.  "  You  shall  see  what  a  lot  of  fine 
new  work  we  are  going  to  do. " 

"Come!  We  are  at  the  third  scene  of  the 
second  act.  It  is  where  the  poet-symbolist 
defends  himself  from  the  rather  malevolent 
accusations  brought  against  him  by  Venus." 

As  no  one  said  anything,  Monsieur  de 
Eueille  asked: 

"And  then?" 

"Then,"  explained  Bijou,  "according  to 
my  ideas  there  ought  to  be  a  little  verse. 
What  do  you  say  about  it,  Jean  ?" 

With  an]  absorbed  air,    his  head    leaning 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  41 

against  the  back  of  a  large  easy-chair,  Jean, 
who  was  far  away  in  dreamland,  did  not  hear 
the  question. 

*'  Are  you  asleep  ?"  cried  Bijou. 

Turning  to  her  he  inquired: 

"  Are  you  speaking  to  me  ?" 

"  Mon  Dieu  !  yes.  I  have  that  honor.  I 
am  asking  you  if  a  verse  wouldn't  come  in 
well  here— a  verse  set  to  some  well-known 
air  ?" 

"  Yes,  very  well,"  he  replied  vaguely. 

"  Good!    Then  compose  one!" 

Jean  jumped  up  and  exclaimed: 

' '  Must  I  do  it  ?    But  why  should  I  ?" 

"  Because  you  are  the  one  who  always  com- 
poses them." 

"  There's  a  reason  for  you!"  protested  Jean. 
"  That  is  just  why  it  is  some  one  else's  turn. 
You  have  only  got  to  set  Henry  to  work,  or 
Uncle  Alexis,  or  Monsieur  Giraud,  or  even 
Pierrot." 

"Why, '  even?' "  asked  Pierrot  with  vexation. 
"  How  do  you  know  but  that  I  can  compose 
verses  quite  as  well  as  you?" 

"  Compose  them,  then.  As  for  me,  I've  had 
enough  of  it." 

"Jean,"  said  Bijou  imploringly,  "don't 
leave  us  in  the  lurch,  I  beg  of  you." 

And  she  walked  toward  him,  her  lips 
advanced  in  a  beseeching  and  droll  little 
pout. 


42  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  had  seen  the  movement. 
He  got  up  quickly,  and  stopping  her  on  the 
way  exclaimed: 

"Oh,  but  he  will  compose  your  verses. 
That's  all  he  asks  for.     Go  and  sit  down." 

Denysc  stood  perfectly  still  in  the  middle  of 
the  hall,  amazed  at  this  singular  behavior.  At 
last  she  replied: 

"  But  it  is  your  place  to  go  and  sit  down. 
"Why  do  you  leave  your  table?" 

"Ah!  haven't  I  the  right  to  leave  it  without 
permission?" 

"Jean!"  recommenced  Bijou.  "Come, 
Jean!" 

Again  Monsieur  de  Rueille  interposed  and 
said  in  a  cutting  tone: 

"  Why  don't  you  get  down  on  your  knees  to 
him?" 

'  Oh!  dear  me!  I'd  just  as  soon,  if  that  can 
decide  him." 

•  She  was  flying  toward  her  cousin,  when 
Monsieur  de  Rueille  seized  her  by  the  arm,  ex- 
claiming angi'ily: 

"  Come,  now!     This  is  ridiculous!" 

She  murmured,  looking  at  him  in  astonish- 
ment: 

"  It  is  you  who  are  ridiculous." 

He  replied  in  hard  tones: 

"  Oh,  yes,  of  course.  It  is  I  who  must  go 
and  sit  down.     It  is  I  who  am  ridiculous.    It 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  43 

is  I  who  am  everything  that  I  ought  not  to  be 
and  who  do  everything  I  ought  not  to  do." 

"What  is  the  matter  now,  my  children?" 
inquired  Madame  de  Bracieux. 

Monsieur  de  Jonzac,  carefully  tapping  his 
pipe  against  a  piece  of  furniture  in  order  to 
knock  out  the  ashes,  then  explained: 

"Heaven  forbid!  it  is  Paul  who  is  quarrel- 
ing with  Bijou." 

"With  Bijou?"  said  the  old  woman,  over- 
come with  surprise.  And  Madame  de  Eueille 
repeated,  laying  down  the  paper  she  was  read- 
ing: "Paul  quarreling  with  Bijou?  It  isn't 
possible!" 

The  Abbe  Courteil,  who  was  scandalized, 
also  affirmed: 

"  Indeed  yes!  Monsieur  le  Comte  has  been 
scolding  Mademoiselle  Denyse." 

"  Come  here,  Bijou,"  said  the  marchioness. 

The  young  girl  ran  and  curled  herself  up  on 
a  cushion  at  her  grandmother's  feet,  while 
Monsieur  de  Rueille  went  up  to  Jean  and  said 
to  him  in  an  undertone: 

"  You  ought  to  prevent  Bijou  from  acting 
like  that  with  you." 

"Like  what?    Ah!  you  are  dreaming." 

"  I  am  not  dreaming  the  least  in  the  world. 
After  all,  Denyse  is  twenty  years  old." 

"Twenty-one." 

"That  makes  it  still  worse.  She  ought  to 
behave  better." 


44  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"But  the  poor  child  behaves  beautifully," 
said  Jean,  and  added,  looking  straight  at  his 
cousin: 

"I  don't  know  what  on  earth  is  the  matter 
with  you!" 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  murmured  with  some 
embarrassment: 

"  I  am  wrong — naturally  I  am  wrong." 

"Absolutely,"  said  Blaye  dryly,  who  then 
arose. 

On  seeing  him  get  up  Bijou  left  the  mar- 
chioness, and  running  toward  him  cried: 

"Oh!  but  you  are  not  going  away?  Grand- 
mother, forbid  him  to  leave  us." 

"  Come,  Jean,"  said  the  marchioness,  half- 
amiably,  hal f-scoldingly,  "don't  be  such  a 
tease  as  all  that." 

The  young  man  sat  down  again  and  as- 
sumed a  melancholy  air,  saying: 

"And  this  is  the  country — repose — vaca- 
tion! One  works  like  a  negro.  One  writes 
reviews — reviews  with  verses  in  them.  One 
goes  to  bed  regularly  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  This  is  what  is  called  '  seeking  green 
fields!' " 

Pierrot,  who  appeared  to  be  listening  with 
profound  attention,  observed  sarcastically: 

"  Go  on,  old  man.   You  interest  me  greatly." 
And  as  Bijou  laughed,  Jean,  with  an  air  of 
annoyance,  turned  to  Pierrot. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  45 

"  You  are  very  clever,  little  one." 
Madame  de  Bracieux's  voice  could  now  be 
heard. 

"  My  children,  you  are  unbearable." 
She  looked  at  them  in  surprise,  asking  herself 
what  war-cloud  had  suddenly  arisen,  not  un- 
derstanding any  of  these  disagreeable  speeches, 
these  hostile  attitudes,  that  she  was  observing 
for  the  first  time.  And  again  she  called  Bijou 
to  her,  who  seemed  to  be  questioning  every- 
body, her  great  eyes  full  of  surprise. 

"Do  you  know  what  is  the  matter  with 
them?" 

With  an  innocent  and  wondering  air  she  re- 
plied: 

"  I  haven't  the  least  idea,  grandmother." 
"  Can't  you  see  how  they  are  going  on?" 
"  Yes,  but  I  don't  know  why.     If  it  is  on 
account  of  the  review  let  us  give  it  up.     Sim- 
ply because  the  review  amuses  me — amuses 
me  greatly — I  shouldn't  like  to  make  every  one 
miserable." 
Monsieur  de  Rueille  now  exclaimed: 
"  Are  we  working?    Yes  or  no.     I  have  had 
enough  of  being  here  waiting  like  a  fool." 

"Where  are  we?"  asked  Jean,  with  an  air  that 
seemed  to  signify,  "  Since  it  must  be,  it  must." 
Eueille  replied: 

"  You've  already  been  told  where  we  are^ 
you've  been  told  twice." 


46  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Bijou  explained  sweetly: 

"  Where  the  ipoet-symbolist  has  to  answer 
Venus." 

"Ah!  yes.  I  know  now.  She  accuses  him 
of  a  lot  of  things  and  you  want  him  to  defend 
himself.'' 

"In  a  verse." 

"I  quite  understand.  Where  are  you  go- 
ing?" 

'•  I  am  going,"  said  Bijou,  who  was  crossing 
the  drawing-room,  "to  sit  beside  Monsieur 
Giraud.     He  will  not  tease  me." 

The  tutor  blushed  and  made  himself  quite 
small  on  the  divan  where  he  was  seated. 
Denyse  slipped  down  near  him  and  declared: 

"  We  are  listening." 

Jean,  who  was  twisting  around  a  pencil  and 
a  piece  of  paper,  now  asked: 

"What  is  Venus'  reply?" 

While  Monsieur  de  Rueille  with  an  air  of 
indifference,  was  idly  watching  a  moth  flying 
around  the  lamp  in  front  of  him,  several  voices 
repeated  in  deafening  tones: 

"  What  is  Venus'  reply?" 

Overcome  by  the  racket  and  stopping  up  his 
ears,  he  read: 

"  Thou  knowest,  I  believe, 
Not  a  word " 

"  Rub  it  out,"  said  Jean,  "  and  write,  '  I  do 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  47 

not  believe  it  at  all,  thou  must  know,' and  now 
the  symbolist  replies: 

The  soul  of  a  symbolist, 

If  you  but  knew, 
Is  an  amethyst  jewel-case 

Somber  of  hue, 
Which  a  lock  holds  secure, 
Formed  of  diamouds  pure. 
When  once  it  is  opened,  then  all  is  revealed. 
For  the  treasure  that  lay  there,  unguessed  and  con- 
cealed, 
Bursts  forth  in  its  beauty,  illumines  the  room, 
And  smiles  on  a  lover's  sad  lips  succeed  gloom. 

"  Isn't  it  funny?" 

' '  Mon  Dieu .'"  said  Jean,  annoyed.  ' '  I  don't 
say  that  it  is  a  pure  clief-d'cEavre.  Bijou  asks 
me  for  a  verse — I  compose  one  for  her  as  well 
as  I  can.  I  don't  hinder  you  from  writing  an- 
other." 

"  To  what  air  are  we  going  to  sing  that?" 
said  Bijou. 

"Ah,  yes,  that  is  true.  We  must  have  an 
air.     What  air?" 

Kueille  advised: 

"  Put  it  to  '  I  am  watching  a  boy  of  my 
age. ' " 

"Will  it  go?" 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  Will  it  go?' " 

"To  what  air?" 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  it.  I  don't 
know  the  air." 


48  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Then  why  did  you  say  to  take  it?" 

"  Because  I  often  hear  it  alluded  to — '  I  am 
watching  a  boy  of  my  age.'  I  have  it  on  the 
brain.     There  are  a  lot  of  verses  in  it." 

'■But,"  observed  Bijou,  "the  symbolist's 
lines  are  longer  than  those,  particularly  the 
four  last.  You  could  never  sing  them  to  that 
air." 

"  Why,  yes!    I  didn't  think  of  that!" 

"  Fortunately,  Bijou  thinks  of  everything," 
said  Pierrot  proudly. 

Jean  resumed: 

"  We  will  look  up  an  air  later  on.  Let  us 
go,on,  otherwise  we  shall  never  finish," 

"  Who  is  on  the  stage  now?" 

As  Monsieur  de  Rueille  was  biting  the  handle 
of  his  pen,  looking  at  Bijou,  and  did  not  ap- 
pear to  hear,  he  cried: 

"  Paul,  are  you  there  or  have  you  gone 
out?" 

"I  am  here." 

"Ah!    good!    Then  will  you  do    me    the 
kindness  to  tell  me  what  persons  are  on  the 
stage?" 
,    "  Wait.     I  am  looking." 

"What!"  said  Bijou,  "are  you  obliged  to 
look  in  order  to  tell?" 

"You  don't  think,  I  presume,  that  I  know 
by  heart  all  the  little  senseless  things  that 
jvery  one  chooses  to  dictate  to  me?" 


BIJOU'S  COUilTSHlP.  49 

"But  I  know  them." 

And  turning  to  Jean  de  Blayesbe  explained: 

"There  are  now  on  the  stage  Venus,  the 
Symbolist,  Thomas  Virelocque,  and  the  Oppor- 
tunist. We  said  yesterday  that  after  the  pre- 
sentation of  the  Symbolist  to  Venus  we  would 
have  Madame  de  Staiil  come  in." 

"  Well,  make  her  come  in  at  once." 

"  Have  you  found  any  one  to  take  the  part 
of  Madame  de  Stael?"  questioned  Eueille. 
"  Up  to  now  no  one  wanted  to  act  it." 

"No,"  said  Bijou.  "Not  long  ago  I  again 
asked  Madame  de  Jui'zencourt.  She  refused 
positively.     That  wasn't  very  nice  of  her." 

"  Is  Madame  de  Stael  indispensable?"  asked 
Uncle  Jonzac. 

"  Quite  indispensable,"  said  Bijou  with  con- 
viction. "  We  must  positively  find  some  way 
of " 

Then,  suddenly  enlightened,  she  cried  joy- 
fully: 

"  Why,  Henry  can  very  well  act  the  part  of 
Madame  de  Stael.  He  has  hardly  any  mus- 
tache." 

"  I?"  said  Bracieux,  quite  taken  aback.  "I 
act  the  part  of  Madame  de  Stael?" 

"Why,  yes.  She  was  rather  manly.  You 
will  do  very  well." 

"But,  great  heavens!  I  don't  wish  to  ex- 
hibit myself  before  people  whom  I  know  in  a 


50  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

low-necked  gown  and  a  turban,  with  the  figure 
of  a  bolster.    It  would  be  hideous." 

''Not  at  all.  Ah!  come,  now.  You're  not 
going  to  wait  to  be  urged,  I  hope?" 

"  And  spoil  everything  by  being  ill-natured," 
added  Pierrot  with  a  dignified  air. 

Henry  turned  to  him  and  said: 

"  111  natured?  One  can  see  very  well  that 
you  are  not  in  my  place.  But  in  fact  you 
could  very  well  take  my  place." 

As  Pierrot  drew  back  alarmed  he  continued: 

"  Why  shouldn't  you?  You  have  even  less 
mustache  than  I." 

"  Yes,  but  I  am  a  frail  little  chap,"  craftily 
declared  Pierrot,  "and  Madame  de  Stael  was 
rather  a  stout  woman." 

"Frail?    You,  the  athlete ?" 

Jean  de  Blaye  here  struck  the  inlaid  floor 
with  a  billiard-cue  to  command  silence,  and 
said: 

' '  We  will  think  of  some  one  else  for  Madame 
de  Stael  when  we  shall  have  decided  what  she 
has  to  say.  Now  she  enters.  You  are  not 
writing,  Paul?" 

"What  do  you  want  me  to  write?" 

"  Well,  write  '  Madame  de  Stael.  She  enters 
at — '    Ah  !  in  fact,  where  does  she  enter  ?" 

"I  have  put  'at  the  back.'  When  no  one 
tells  me  anything  I  always  put '  at  the  back.'  " 

"  Good  !    Then  let  us  leave  '  at  the  back.' " 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  51 

"  ^Madame  de  Stael  to  Thomas  Virelocqiie: 
T  am  Madame  de  Stael.' 

"  '  Thomas  Virelocqiie:  If  you  please  V 

^- ^  3Iadame  de  Stael:  I  am  Madame  de 
Stael' 

"  '  Venus:  Upon  your  word.' 

"  '  The  OpporUmist:  That  is  very  curious. 
I  took  you  for  a  Turk.' 

"  '  The  Symbolist:  As  for  me,  I '" 

"Wait  a  moment," said  Monsieur  de  Rueille. 
"  I  have  made  a  mistake," 

"But  how?" 

"  '  But  how  ?'  Why,  as  one  does  make  mis- 
takes sometimes.  Parbleu !  I  wasn't  think- 
ing." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  Bijou.  "  I  don't  know 
what  is  the  matter  with  you,  but  you  are 
awfully  forgetful  this  evening." 

Without  answering,  Rueille  bore  his  pen  so 
hard  down  on  the  paper  that  it  gave  out  a 
plaintive  cry,  and  Jean  asked: 

"  What  are  you  doing  now  ?" 

"  I  am  scratching  out." 

"What?" 

"  I  have  repeated  the  same  lines  four  times." 

Bijou  and  Blaye  got  up  and  went  and  looked 
at  Monsieur  de  Rueille's  "work,"  and  the 
young  girl  read: 

'^'Madame  de  Stael:  I  am  Madame  de 
Stael.' 


52  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  '  Thomas  Virelocgue:  If  you  please  V 

*' '  Madame  de  Stael:  I  ^^am  Madame  de 
Stael.' 

"  Yes,"  said  she,  "you  must  scratch  it  out." 

But  Jean  laughingly  objected. 

"Leave  it,  on  the  contrary.  They  will 
think  that  Maeterlinck  has  collaborated.  It 
will  be  very  cJiic.''^ 

"Suppose  we  retire,"  proposed  Monsieur  de 
Jonzac.  "Paul  is  half-asleep.  That  is  the 
reason  that  he  writes  the  same  thing  over 
three  times  without  being  aware  of  it.  Monsieur 
I'Abbe  is  quite  asleep;  and  as  to  me,  I  am 
dying  to  follow  his  example." 

"  But,"  said  Bijou,  "  it  is  hardly  one  o'clock 
yet." 

"Well,  but  it  seems  to  me  that  in  the 
country —  What  do  you  say  about  it.  Monsieur 
Giraud  ?" 

The  young  professor  replied  without  taking 
his  eyes  off  of  Bijou: 

"Oh,  as  to  me,  monsieur,  I  could  stay  here 
all  night  without  being  sleepy." 
The  marchioness  now  arose  and  said: 

"Your  uncle  is  right,  my  grandchildren. 
We  must  go  to  bed.  Bijou,  you  will  see  that 
the  books  that  you  have  taken  out  of  the  library 
are  put  back." 

"Yes,  grandmother.  I  am  going  to  put 
them  back  myself. "_ 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  53 

They  all  went  out  into  the  hall  except  Bijou, 
and  Monsieur  de  Rueille  then  asked: 

"  Would  you  like  me  to  stay  with  you,  Bijou  ? 
It  won't  take  so  much  time." 

"  No.  You  don't  know  anything  about  the 
library,  and  you  will  get  everything  into  con- 
fusion. I  need  some  one  who  knows  where 
the  books  belong." 

And  addressing  the  tutor,  who  was  the  last 
to  go  out,  she  said  to  him  very  gently,  appar- 
ently as  if  she  were  asking  pardon  for  some 
great  indiscretion: 

"Monsieur  Giraud,  would  you  be  kind 
enough  to  help  me  place  the  books  on  the 
shelves  ?" 

The  young  man  stopped  short,  too  happy  to 
say  a  word.  And  as  he  still  stood  in  the  same 
place,  she  pointed  to  the  open  door. 

"  Close  the  door,  will  you  ?  And  now  take 
Moliere  and  I  will  take  Aristophanes.  Very 
well.     We  will  come  back  for  the  others." 

While  carrying'  the  books  she  chattered 
away,  appearing  not  to  address  her  compan- 
ion, but  only  to  be  thinking  aloud. 

"  Why  is  Jean  consulting  Aristophanes, 
when  Thomas  Virelocque  has  to  speak  to  Ma- 
dame de  Stael ?" 

Then  she  suddenly  asked: 

"Do  you  think  that  our  review  will  be 
amusing  ?" 


54  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Why,  yes,  mademoiselle." 

"  Why  don't  you  ever  say  anything  ?  You 
ought  to  work  too." 

^^  Mon  Dieu  !  mademoiselle.  I  am  not  very 
familiar  vpith  politics  and  fashionable  gossip. 
To  me  they  are  sealed  letters,  and  I  don't  very 
well  see " 

"  And  then  you  probably  prefer  to  be  a  sim- 
ple spectator  ?" 

"  I  regret,  alas!  that  I  cannot  even  be  that." 

"What!  You  are  not  going  to  see  our  re- 
view ?"  she  inquired  in  amazement. 

"No,  mademoiselle." 

"  But  why?" 

He  answered,  frightfully  embarrassed: 

"Oh,  for  a  very  ridiculous  reason." 

"  What  is  it  ?" 

"Mademoiselle,  I " 

"  I  beg  of  you  tell  me  why,"  said  Bijou,  and 
she  leaned  toward  him,  graceful  and  lissome, 
while  the  perfume  of  her  hair  rose  to  the  young 
man's  face,  charming  him  into  a  torpor, dreamy 
and  sweet. 

"  Why  do  you  not  care  to  speak  to  me  ?"  said 
she,  after  awhile.  * '  Am  I  not  your  friend — 
just  a  little  bit  ?" 

"Oh,  mademoiselle,"  he  murmured  broken- 
ly. "  I — I  cannot  be  present  on  that  evening, 
because — oh,  you  see,  it's  very  prosaic— because 
I  haven't  any  coat." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  55 

"  But  you  will  have  plenty  of  time  to  send 
for  your  coat.  Besides,  you'll  need  it  for 
Thursday.     We  have  a  dinner  on  Thursday." 

Giraud  blushed  violently. 

''But,  mademoiselle,  I  cannot  send  for  a  coat 
for  Thursday  or  for  later  on,  as  I  haven't  any." 

"None  at  all?" 

"None  at  all." 

' '  Come !    You  are  joking. " 

"  Alas!  no,  mademoiselle.  I  have  no  coat." 
And  he  added  with  a  smile  that  was  infinitely 
sad:  "And  there  are  many  poor  devils  like 
myself  who  are  in  the  same  condition." 

"  Oh!"  said  Bijou,  suddenly  seizing  the  pro- 
fessor's hand,  "  let  me  beg  your  pardon.  How 
careless  and  unkind  I  am!  You  will  be  sure 
to  hate  me." 

"Hate  you!"  he  murmured,  lowering  his 
head,  "  but  I  adore  you — I  adore  you!" 

Bijou  regarded  him  with  an  air  of  alarm,  but 
there  was  a  tender  expression  in  her  deep  eyes 
veiled  in  a  mist  of  tears.  Then  she  said  with 
a  changed  voice: 

"Go  away!  Don't  say  that  any  more. 
Never  say  it  again — never!" 

On  the  door-sill  the  professor  turned  back 
and  saw  that  Bijou  was  seated  on  the  divan 
and  sobbing,  with  her  face  buried  in  the  cush- 
ions. He  would  have  liked  to  go  back  to  her, 
but  did  not  dare,  so  turned  and  left  the  room 
■without  one  word. 


56  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 


IV. 

Bijou,  who  as  a  rule  went  trotting  about  the 
park  and  the  house  every  morning,  did  not 
appear  until  after  the  first  stroke  of  the  clock 
was  announcing  breakfast.  Pierrot  anxiously 
rushed  forward  to  question  her  before  she 
could  even  say  good-morning  to  the  marchioness 
and  Uncle  Alexis.  He  wanted  to  know  why 
he  hadn't  seen  her  at  the  dairy  as  usual, 
where  she  went  every  day  to  see  about  the 
cheeses.  "Why  hadn't  she  been  there,  as  she 
didn't  go  out  on  horseback  ? 

"  How  do  you  know,"  said  Bijou,  "  that  I 
didn't  go  out  on  horseback  ?" 

"Because  Patatras  was  in  the  stable.  I 
went  there  to  see. " 

" So  you  watch  all  my  movements?" 

"It  isn't  exactly  watching,"  said  Pierrot, 
blushing,  and  beside,  I  wasn't  the  only  one. 
There  were  two  of  us.  Monsieur  Giraud " 

"What  French!  Good  heavens!  What 
French  !"  said  Monsieur  de  Jonezac  in  despair. 

"  What's  the  difference  ?  If  there  were  any 
one  here  I  should  take  care  to  speak  more 
chiquement;  but  as  there  is  no  one  here  but 
ourselves ■" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  67 

And  turning  to  Bijou  he  said: 
"  It's  perfectly  true.  He  was  as  much  sur- 
prised as  I  was — Monsieur  Giraud.  He  kept 
on  saying  all  the  time,  '  We  always  see  Made- 
moiselle Denyse  every  day  running  about 
everywhere.  She  must  be  ill.'  But  then  said 
I,  '  Oh,  as  to  that,  no.  The  Bijou  is  never 
ill.'  Don't  you  see  now,  Monsieur  Giraud, 
that  I  was  right  ?" 

"  No.  You  were  wrong.  I  was  not  exactly 
ill,  but  tired — not  quite  up  to  the  mark.  I 
have  just  got  up." 

She  walked  up  to  the  professor,  who  was 
leaning  against  the  embrasure  of  the  window, 
and  holding  out  her  hand  continued: 

"And  I  thank  Monsieur  Giraud  for  having 
so  kindly  thought  of  me." 

Quite  pale  and  evidently  worried,  the  young 
man  hardly  ventured  to  touch  the  soft  little 
hand  which  laid  itself  in  his  with  such  con- 
fidence and  abandon,  but  he  seemed  pleased 
with  the  kind  greeting,  such  as  he  had  certain- 
ly never  thought  to  receive  again. 

"Mademoiselle,"  he  murmured,  seized  with 
a  vague  desire  to  fly  away  or  to  burst  into 
tears,  "  Pray  believe  that  I  never  allowed  my- 
self to  make  those  remarks." 

"  Well,  then,  you  were  wrong.  One  must 
allow  one's  self  everything  where  '  the  Bijou  ' 
is  concerned — as  Pierrot  says." 


58  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Then  all  at  once  she  asked,  suddenly  assum- 
ing an  air  of  concern: 

"Have  they  worked  on  the  review  this 
morning  ?" 

"  Worked,"  said  Pierrot  in  an  aggrieved  tone. 
"Ah!  indeed  no!  It's  bad  enough  to  have 
to  toil  away  while  you  are  there  without  doing 
it  in  your  absence.  Oh,  no  !  That  would  be 
a  hard  case,  indeed.  We  had  the  review  for 
supper,  and  I  above  all  people — I  who  am 
obliged  to  work  besides." 

Bijou  began  to  laugh  and  said: 

"Are  you  not  afraid  of  hurting  yourself, 
working  so  hard  ?" 

"If  he  goes  on  like  this,"  said  Monsieur 
de  Jonezac,  "he  will  never  get  his  degree. 
Am  I  not  right,  Monsieur  Giraud  ?" 

"I  fear  so,  monsieur,  I  fear  so,"  answered 
the  professor.  "Pierrot  is  very  intelligent, 
but  so  careless,  so  absent-minded,  particularly 
since  we  came  here." 

"  I  am  no  more  absent-minded  than  you  are, 
Monsieur  Giraud!"  exclaimed  Pierrot,  "and 
that  is  the  truth.  Your  head  seems  to  be  al- 
ways in  the  clouds.  You're  not  the  book- 
worm that  you  were.  You  never  do  anything 
any  more  except  to  work  with  me  and  over 
verses  in  corners." 

"Do  you  write  verses,  Monsieur  Giraud?" 
inquired  Madame  de  Rueille,  who  had  just 
come  in,  followed  by  Jean  and  Henry. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  59 

"  3fon  Bieu  !  madame,"  stammered  the  poor 
boy,  who  did  not  know  which  way  to  turn,  "I 
do  write,  but  it  isn't  exactly  poetry." 

"  But  your  verses  are  charming,"  said  Jean. 
And  as  the  young  man  regarded  him  in  aston- 
ishment he  resumed:  "  Yes,  you  write  very 
pretty  verses  that  you  sometimes  lose.  It  was 
little  Marcel  who  found  these  and  gave  them 
to  me."  And  smilingly  he  offered  Giraud  a 
paper  folded  so  that  the  writing  could  not  be 
seen. 

"  Let  us  see,"  said  Bijou,  stretching  out  her 
hand. 

"Mademoiselle!"  cried  the  tutor,  rushing 
forward  in  alarm,  "Mademoiselle!  I  beg  of 
you!"  Then  he  added,  as  if  asking  pardou  for 
so  rude  an  interruption:  "  They  are  very  bad 
verses.  Allow  me  to  hide  them.  I  will  show 
you  some  others  which  are  more  worthy  of  in- 
spection." 

Bijou,  who  was  standing  in  an  attitude  of 
eagerness,  stretching  out  her  hand  with  an  air 
of  infantile  grace,  began  to  entreat  him: 

"  I  beg  of  you,  Jean,  let  me  see  them.  It 
won't  prevent  Monsieur  Giraud  from  writing 
others  that  we  can  also  see." 

But  the  young  man  was  inflexible,  and  re- 
plied while  giving  back  the  papers  to  the  be- 
wildered tutor: 

"  I  cannot  show  you  a  letter,  for  it  is  a  sort 


60  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

of  letter  that  belongs  to  the  one  who  wrote 
it. 

"Thank  yon,"  murmured  Giraud,  quite 
disconcerted.  "Thank  you,  sir."  And  he 
slipped  the  tormenting  bit  of  paper  into  his 
pocket. 

"Pierrot!"  called  out  the  marchioness, 
"  give  me  '  La  Bruyere,'  will  you  ?" 

"  Who  did  you  say?"  said  the  bad  boy,  wink- 
ing his  eye. 

"'LaBruy5rc!'" 

"You  can  see,"  said  Monsieur  de  Jonezac, 
gazing  at  his  son  in  despair,  "  that  he  doesn't 
even  know  what  La  Bruyere  is." 

Pierrot  protested  with  energy,  saying: 

"  Yes,  but  I  do,  though,  and  I  can  prove  it. 
It  has  a  blue  back." 

"  A  what  ?"  asked  the  old  marchioness. 

"  A  blue  back,  aunt." 

Monsieur  Giraud  here  interposed. 

"  Explain  to  your  aunt  that  you  have  the 
bad  habit  of  distinguishing  books  by  the  color 
of  their  binding  rather  than  by  their  titles." 

'■'■  Pai'hleur  said  Monsieur  de  Jonezac  indig- 
nantly. "  He  never  opens  one  of  them.  Such 
ignorance!  When  I  think  that  he  is  nearly 
seventeen  years  old!" 

"  Poor  Pierrot!"  said  Bijou  compassionately. 
"  He  isn't  so  ignorant  as  all  that."  And  as 
her  uncle  said  nothing  in  response  she  added: 
"  And  then  he  is  so  nice  and  so  healthy." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  fil 

"Oh!  as  to  that,"  replied  Monsieur  de  Jone- 
zac,  "he  is  burstiug  with  health,  and  that 
makes  him  still  more  unbearable,  but  not  any 
more  intelligent.  They  are  complaining  nowa- 
days of  intellectual  overwork.  They  say  that 
it  makes  children  stupid,  and  so  they  have 
substituted  physical  overwork,  which  makes 
them  more  stupid  still." 

"Now,"  said  Bertrode,  "uncle  has  started 
on  the  war-path.  Well,  I  am  also  of  his 
opinion,  and  it  doesn't  please  me  at  all  to 
think  that  my  children  will  perhaps  at  some 
time  add  to  the  number  of  young  brutes  that 
we  see  everywhere  about  us." 

"  But,"  said  Henry  de  Bracieux,  "  there  are 
among  the  young  and  the  very  young  many 
who  are  very  intellectual.     I  know  of  some. " 

"Well,  I  also  know  of  some,"  answered 
Jean  de  Blaye,  ' '  but  according  to  my  ideas 
they  are  not  really  intellectual.    They  are " 

As  a  clock  struck  a  number  of  times  the 
marchioness  arose,  saying: 

"  Come  to  breakfast,  my  children.  Jean 
can  finish  his  little  explanation  at  the  table." 

Jean  replied,  laughing: 

"  I  don't  care  to,  aunt." 

"But  I  do  care.  I  am  no  longer  'up  to 
date,'  as  you  say,  and  it  doesn't  displease  me 
to  be  instructed  about  certain  things  of  which 
I  am  in  total  ignorance." 


62  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Seating  herself  at  the  table,  she  continued: 

*'  Now,  what  about  those  who  are  not  really 
intellectual  ?" 

"Oh!"  said  Jean,  " explanations  are  not  in 
my  line.  Those  who  are  not  truly  intellectual 
are  invalids — unreal  invalids  in  the  beginning, 
who  end  by  being  actually  so.  The^?^  are 
unbearably  sell-conscious,  efifeminate,  and 
unnatural — everything  one  can  be.  Their 
originality  is  voluntary  and  impersonal.''' 

"  But  what  do  you  mean  by  that  ?" 
."I  can't  tell  you  exactly.     They  are  com- 
plicated.    For  instance,  little  Balue  is  a  pure 
type  of  what  I  refer  to.     You  can  study  him. " 

"  That  idea  never  occurred  to  me.  But  are 
there  any  other  extraordinary  creatures  in  the 
younger  generation  beside  '  complications?'  " 

"  Yes.     There  are  the  young  athletes." 

"  As  a  specimen,  Pierrot,"  said  Henry  de 
Bracieux. 

The  marchioness  turned  toward  her  grand- 
son. 

"  No  personalities.  Go  on  with  your  little 
lecture,  Jean." 

"I  should  prefer,  aunt,  to  eat  my  egg 
in  peace." 

"  We  had  got  as  far  as  the  young  athletes." 

"Well,  if  the  'complications'  are  rather 
trying,  the  athletes  are  annoying  to  a  degree. 
Boxing,  football,  bicycling,  matches,  and  rec- 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  63 

ords — these  are  the  continual  themes  of  ^fcsir 
conversation,  and,  what  is  more  to  be  regretted, 
these  subjects  assume  a  gigantic  and  a  unique 
importance  in  their  lives.  In  their  eyes  the 
man  of  most  consequence  is  the  one  who  can 
give  the  hardest  blow  of  the  list  or  the  one 
wlio  can  show  the  greatest  amount  of  resist- 
ance or  strength.  The  one  person  in  the 
world  who  commands  their  admiration  is  the 
'  champion.' " 

"And  what  is  the  difference  between  athletes 
and  complications?" 

"None;  or  with  rare  exceptions  that  only 
serve  to  prove  the  rule.  Understand,  I  am 
speaking  only  of  the  younger  generation,  to 
which  Pierrot  belongs." 

"  Poor  Pierrot!  Let  him  alone,"  said  Bijou. 
"You  are  all  of  you  joined  against  him." 

"  Because  there  is  still  time  to  correct  his 
characteristics,  whereas  if  he  is  allowed  to  go 
on,  the  result  certainly  will  be  a  most  deplor- 
able failure." 

"Jean  is  right,"  affirmed  Monsieur  de 
Jonezac.  "  He  can  be  allowed  to  give  advice 
to  Pierrot,  and  even  to  others,  as  he  is  intel- 
lectual and  athletic  as  well. " 

Madame  de  Bracieux  regarded  her  grand- 
nephew  with  benevolence  and  said : 

"  Your  uncle  is  right,  my  boy.  You  are 
the  distinguished   one  of  the  family."    She 


64  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

observed  that  Bijou  seemed  to  be  examing  her 
cousin  curiously,  and  resumed:  "  I  am  only 
speaking  of  the  men,  naturally." 

Pierrot  leaned  over  to  Denyse,  who  was 
seated  beside  h'  v,  r.nd  said  in  a  low  tone  of 
passionate  gratituJe: 

"  It  is  so  good  of  you  to  be  always  defend- 
ing me,  and  I  care  more  for  you  than  for  all 
of  the  oi  uers." 

She  answered  smilingly  and  with  an  air  that 
was  almost  maternal: 

"But  that's  very  bad  of  you.  You  ought 
to  love  my  uncle,  as  well  as  my  grandmother, 
more  than  you  do  me. " 

"Well,  you  can't  prove  that;  and  then  that 
isn't  what  I  wanted  to  say.  What  I  wished 
to  sav  was  that  I  love  you  more  than  any 
of  them  do,  and  yet  there  are  some  of  them 
who  care  a  great  deal  for  you.  Now,  there  is 
Paul — Paul  de  Rueille.  Well,  I  am  sure  that 
he  cares  more  for  you  than  he  does  for  Ber- 
trade — more  than  he  cares  for  his  boys  or  for 
anything  else  above  or  below " 

"Stop  this  minute  !"  said  Bijou  in  alarm, 
and  looking  around  to  see  if  any  one  had  over- 
heard. 

"  Don't  worry.  Th  ^y're  busy  eating;  they're 
not  noticing  us.  What  I  tell  you  is  prefectly 
true— and  Jean  Too,  and  Henry,  and  Monsieur 
Giraud.  The  Abbe  Courteil  is  the  only  one 
who  doesn't  follow  you  about,  and  even '' 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  65 

"But  you  are  dreaming.  How  can  you 
imagine " 

"  I  don't  imagine— I  observe;  and  I  observe 
because  it  annoys  me." 

Monsieur  de  Jonezac's  vvlc    was  now  heard. 

"  Why,  no.  I  am  convinced  that  he  doesn't 
even  know  that  Kenan  exists.  lie  knows 
nothing — nothing  whatsoever." 

Ever  gentle  and  conciliating,  the  i-rofessor 
replied: 

' '  Oh,  but  yes !  For  as  to  B»nan,  that  happens 
to  be  preciselv  a  subject  with  which  he  ought 
to  be  familiar,  for  three  or  four  days  ago  I 
had  occasion  to  quote  him  as  the  author  of 
'  The  Origin  of  Language.'  " 

'•  Well,  I  will  bet  that  he  doesn't  even  re- 
member his  name. "  And  Monsieur  de  Jo^ezac 
called  out — "  Pierrot!" 

The  little  one,  absorbed  in  his  conversation 
with  Bijou,  never  suspected  that  they  were 
discussing  him.  On  hearing  himself  called  he 
turned  his  head  around,  vaguely  anxious. 

"  Pierrot,"  asked  Monsieur  de  Jonezac, 
"  What  is  Kenan?" 

"Come!  That's  good!  The  questions  are 
beginning  again.  Kenan!  What  in  the  world 
can  that  be?" 

And  as  his  father  repeated,  "Don't  you 
know  what  Kenan  is?"  he  answered:  "No, 
papa." 


66  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  What!"  said  Monsieur  Giraud  in  surprise. 
' '  Why,  it  was  only  the  other  day  we  were 
talking  about  him." 

"About  hiin?"  said  Pierrot  in  consternation. 
"  I  ?    I  was  talking  about  that  man  ?" 

"  Why,  yes.  Come,  exercise  your  memory. 
I  quoted  one  of  his  works  to  you." 

Bijou,  who  had  all  along  been  listening  with 
one  ear  to  what  Pierrot  was  saying  and  fol- 
lowing the  conversation  with  the  other,  re- 
membered, and  with  her  head  almost  touching 
her  plate  and  apparently  absorbed  by  the 
strawberries  that  she  was  rolling  in  the  sugar, 
she  whispered  to  him  very  low: 

"  The  Origin  of  Language." 

' '  Come,  think  hard,"  repeated  the  professor. 
"  I  quoted  from  a  book  of  Monsieur  Kenan's — 
what  was  it?" 

To  the  general  consternation  Pierrot  replied 
resolutely: 

"  'The  Language  of  Flowers.'" 

"Admirable!"  said  Bertrade  with  delight. 
"One  can  always  expect  something  amusing 
from  Pierrot." 

Notwithstanding  his  desire  to  laugh.  Mon- 
sieur de  Jonezac  declared  with  a  frown: 

"  Well,  as  to  me,  I  don't  find  that  funny." 

With  a  very  red  face  Pierrot  turned  to 
Bijou. 

"  You,  at  least — you  do  not  laugh.  You  are 
so  good." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  67 

As  they  were  all  leaving  the  table  he  drew 
her  out  on  the  terrace  stairs,  begging  her: 

"Let  me  go  with  you  to  give  the  grass  to 
Patatras." 

"  But  before  I  do  that  I  must  serve  the 
coffee. " 

"Bertrade  can  very  well  do  it  for  once,, 
don't  you  see?    And  as  for  me,  I  cannot  go 
back  to  the   drawing-room.     They  would  be 
sure  to  ask  me  the  name  of  something  else." 

Denyse  took  a  basket  with  her  in  which  was 
placed  a  box  of  clover  that  she  gave  to  her 
horse  every  day,  and  turned  in  the  direction 
of  the  stable,  followed  by  Pierrot,  who  went 
on  repeating,  lowering  his  rough  voice  till  its 
tones  were  almost  soft  and  mellow. 

"You  are  so  lovely.  Bijou — so  pretty.  If 
you  only  knew!" 

While  crossing  the  alley  which  led  to  the 
stables  he  drew  her  attention  to  Monsieur  de 
Rueille  and  Jean  de  Blaye,  who  were  walking 
forward  and  talking,  and  said: 

"See!  As  you  were  not  there  the  cousins 
didn't  stay  long  in  the  drawing-room. " 

Seeing  that  Denyse  was  going  toward  them, 
he  pulled  her  back  roughly,  saying: 

"No!  Please  don't,  I  beg  of  you.  They'll 
never  let  go  of  you,  and  I  shan't  have  you  all 
to  myself.  It's  such  a  piece  of  luck  for  me  to 
be  with  you  for  one  moment  without  Monsieur 


68  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Giraud.  T  always  have  to  go  treading  on  his 
heels,  especially  when  I  am  anywhere  near 
you." 

Bijou  regarded  the  two  men  attentively, 
who,  very  much  absorbed,  were  walking  to- 
ward her  without  seeing  her,  and  between  her 
eyelids  shone  that  little  light  that  at  times  im- 
parted so  singular  a  sharpness  to  her  habitu- 
ally veiled  glances.  She  replied,  while  going 
into  the  stable: 

"  As  you  ^Jease.  We  will  go  and  give  Pata- 
tras  his  grass  without  them." 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  was  walking  with  his 
eyes  fixed  on  the  gravel  path  of  the  alley.  He 
raised  his  head  on  hearing  the  door  open. 
Jean  de  Blaye  pointed  to  the  stable  and  said: 

"Look!  Is  not  she  the  cause  of  the  con- 
straint shown  of  late  in  your  slightest  words — 
of  the  sort  of  animosity  that  you  seem  to 
cherish  toward  me?" 

Affecting  a  jesting  tone,  Eueille  replied: 

"Indeed!     Who  is  it?" 

'^  Bijou,  parbleuf  Ah!  Do  you  think  that 
I  haven't  noticed  every  hour  what  was  going 
on  in  your  mind  ?" 

"  It  must  have  been  very  interesting." 

"  Don't  joke  about  it!  You  know  hat  you 
don't  feel  like  doing  so.  I  knew  the  tv  mo- 
ment when  you  begun  unconsciously  to  admire 
Bijou.     More  than  one  admires  a  good  little 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  69 

cousin  whom  one  likes  very  much.  It  was  on 
the  evening  of  the  grand  prix,  at  Uncle 
Alexis'  house,  when  she  sang.  You  don't  say 
anything!" 

"  I  am  listening.     Go  on." 

"  Since  we  have  all  been  together  here,  seeing 
each  other  constantly — since  you  have  been 
passing  every  moment  of  long  days  beside 
Bijou,  your— let  us  say  your  admiration  has 
naturally  increased,  and  since  yesterday,  after 
your  drive  to  Pont-ser-Loire,  it  has  reached 
the  culminating  point.     Isn't  it  true  ?" 

"Well,  yes,  it  is  true." 

"That  doesn't  surprise  me.  But  explain 
one  thing  to  me — something  that  does  surprise 
me. "    . 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?" 

"Why  is  it  that  you  seem  to  be  so  partic- 
ularly vexed  wath  me  ?  Why  with  me  any 
more  than  with  your  brother-in-law,  with 
Pierrot's  tutor,  or  even  with  Pierrot  himself  ?" 

'■'■Dame!  Henry  is  almost  of  the  same  age 
as  Bijou.  He  has  been  brought  up  with  her, 
and  she  ]oo]:s  v.pon  him  exactly  as  if  he  were 
a  brother.  Little  La  Balue  is  ridiculous,  the 
tutor  a  poor  devil  who  doesn't  count,  and 
Pierrot,     callow  youth;  whereas  you    — " 

"W    ./easl " 

"As  to  you,  you  are  one  of  those  people 
with  whom  one  falls  in  love,  and  you  know  it 


•yO  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

very  well;  and  I  see,  I  feel,  I  divine  that  it  is 
you  whom  Bijou  will  end  by  falling  in  love 
with." 

"With  me?  Come,  now  !  She  doesn't  even 
deign  to  pay  the  slightest  attention  to  me. 
In  her  eyes  I  am  only  the  man  who  breaks  in 
a  horse  for  her,  takes  her  out  rowing,  or  writes 
verses  for  her  review." 

"  Nevertheless  you  are  of  more  importance 
than  the  others." 

"And  why  then?  You  are  pleased  to  con- 
sider little  Balue  as  'ridiculous,'  but  every- 
body is  not  of  your  opinion.  As  to  Giraud,  he 
is  charming." 

"Yes,  but  he  is  Giraud." 

"And  even  so,  what  difference  does  that 
make  ?" 

"  A  great  deal— that  is  to  say,  none  at  all  to 
certain  women;  but  Bijou  is  not  one  of  that 
kind." 

"  Ah  !    And  what  do  you  know  about  it  ?" 

"I  have  been  studying  her  for  a  long  time 
without  appearing  to  do  so." 

"  You  have  been  studying  her,  but  you  don't 
understand  her." 

"  Possibly." 

"I  am  sure  that  if  I  were  in  her  place, 
among  so  many  lovers  the  one  whom  I  should 
choose " 

"Those  are  the  words  of  a  song  in  the 
'  Noces  de  Jeannette.  ■ " 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  71 

"You  are  not  going  to  prevent  me  from 
following  out  my  little  idea.  Now,  among  so 
many  lovers,  if  I  had  to  make  a  choice,  Giraud 
is  the  one  to  whom  I  most  certainly  would 
give  the  preference." 

"A  woman  would  choose  Giraud  because  he 
is  a  handsome  youth,  but  a  young  girl  who 
regards  a  man  simply  from  a  marriageable 
point  of  view  would  never  give  him  the  pref- 
erence." 

"  Then  the  reason  that  you  are  not  angry 
with  Giraud  is  because,  according  to  your  idea, 
he  isn't  marriageable,  consequently  not  to  be 
greatly  dreaded  V 

"Precisely." 

"Well,  and  as  to  me,  my  poor  old  man — do 
you  then  look  upon  me  as  marriageable  ?  Just 
picture  me  with  my  unfortunate  400,000 
francs  trying  to  make  Bijou  happy.  Fancy  us 
in  an  apartment  that  rents  for  3,000,  with 
pretroleum  lamps  and  a  charcoal  fire.  It  would 
be  simply  delicious  !" 

"And  you  think,  then,  that  you  are  in  love 
with  her  ?" 

"  Permit  me.  I  have  never  said  that  I  was 
in  love  with  Bijou.  I  don't  know  whether  I 
am  or  not." 

' '  And  you  think  that  she  is  not  in  love  with 
you  ?" 

"  I^ot  the  least  in  the  world.    Besides  that, 


72  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

she  has  never  even  tried  to  make  me  think  so. 
'Good-morning.'  'Good-evening.'  'It's  a 
fine  day.'  Such  is  the  nature  of  the  exciting 
dialogues  that  each  day  take  place  between  us. 
So,  you  see,  you  are  wrong  to  be  vexed  with 
me." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  my  poor  Jean,  but  I 
was  so  sure  that  you  were  the  favored  one 
that " 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  here  interrupted  him- 
self, leaning  forward  to  listen. 

"  Look  !"  said  he.     "  There  she  is  !" 

Bijou  was  leaving  the  stable,  still  followed 
by  Pierrot.  She  walked  up  gracefully  to  the 
two  men,  examining  them  with  her  usual  calm 
and  smiling  air,  and  asked: 

"What  is  the  matter  with  you  two?  You 
look  as  if  you  were  discussing  matters  of  the 
very  greatest  importance." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  73 


V. 


Bijou  was  in  the  dining-room  arranging  tlie 
baskets  of  flowers  for  dinner,  while  in  the 
butler's  pantry  the  servants  were  polishing  the 
large  silver  dishes,  which  shone  resplendently, 
when  the  butler  said  to  one  of  the  footmen: 

"  Slij)  on  your  coat.  Here's  a  carriage,  and 
coming  slowly  up  the  avenue.  Oh,  you've  got 
time  enough.     It's  quite  far  off . " 

Looking  out  of  the  window,  the  footman 
asked : 

"Whose  carriage  is  that?  I  don't  know  it 
at  all.     Splendid  harness,  all  the  same." 

"It  is  probably  the  gentleman  from  La 
Noriniere — Monsieur  le  Comte  de  Clagney." 

''Mdtin  !  It's  well  turned  out." 

"Oh,  he  has  enough  for  that." 

"  What !    Has  he  a  large  income  ?" 

"  Awfully  large — about  four  hundred  thou- 
sand. " 

"  You  know  him,  then  ?" 

' '  My  wife  was  a  kitchen-maid  in  his  house 
before  I  married  her.  A  good  master— always 
amiable  and  nothing  mean  about  him.  B  it 
you'd  better  start  if  you  wish  to  get  to  the 
door  before  he  does." 


•^'^  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

A  moment  before,  Bijou,  who  wanted  some 
more  flowers,  had  run  out  and,  making  one 
leap  across  the  road,  had  jumped  into  the 
middle  of  a  large  bed  of  roses,  where  she  was 
making  pitiful  inroads.  She  was  so  absorbed 
that  she  did  not  hear  a  carriage  that  turned 
into  the  road  encircling  the  lawn,  nor  even 
when  it  stopped  before  the  door  of  cnti'ance. 
When  at  last  she  raised  her  head,  she  saw  a 
tall  man  standing  two  or  three  steps  from  her 
and  regarding  her  with  ecstasy.  And  in  truth 
Bijou,  in  her  cotton  gown  with  broad  pink 
stripes  and  her  little  baby  apron  trimmed 
with  Valenciennes,  was  really  a  pretty  sight, 
foraging  with  rounded  arms  among  the 
flowers.  When  she  saw  herself  regarded  thus, 
her  tea-rose  skin  took  on  a  livelier  tint,  while 
she  stood  speechless  and  embarrassed  before 
the  gentleman,  who  continued  to  contemplate 
her  without  saying  a  word. 

He  was  a  man  of  fifty-five  to  sixty,  tall,  slen- 
der, distinguished,  although  rather  frail  in  fig- 
ure. His  fine  and  intelligent  face  had  a 
somewhat  sad  expression.  As  Bijou,  still  im- 
movable, seemed  hesitating  and  anxious,  he 
approached  and,  bowing,  said  in  a  very  sweet 
tone: 

"  Mademoiselle,  pardon  me,  but  are  you  not 
Denyse  de  Courtaix?" 

Bijou  looked  straight  into  the  eyes  so  curi- 
ously fixed  upon  her  and  replied,  all  smiles; 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  % 

"Yes;  and  you — you  are  Monsieur  de  Clag- 
ny,  are  you  not?" 

"  How  did  you  know  it?" 

Denysehad  just  jumped  from  the  flower-bed 
into  the  road,  and  said,  iu  happy,  joyous  tones, 
without  directly  answering  the  question: 

"Oh!  how  pleased  grandmother  will  be  to 
see  you,  monsieur;  and  Uncle  Alexis,  too. 
Ever  since  it  was  known  that  you  were  coming 
back  here  to  live  in  the  country  they  speak  of 
no  one  but  you.  Let  us  go  and  see  grand- 
mother at  once." 

She  ran  on  before  him,  a  graceful,  undulat- 
ing figure,  crossing  the  large  rooms  with  the 
gliding  step  that  was  one  of  her  greatest 
charms.  The  marchioness  was  not  in  the 
drawing-room,  although  she  was  usually  to  be 
found  there.  Bijou  rang  and  gave  orders  to 
tell  her.  Then  she  came  and  sat  down  oppo- 
site Monsieur  de  Clagny,  and  examining  him 
with  attention  observed: 

"  Paul  de  Rueille  was  quite  right  when  he 
said  that  I  must  have  seen  you  formerly,  for  I 
do  remember  you." 

She  gazed  at  him  still  more  earnestly  and 
repeated  pensively: 

"I  remember  you  very  well." 

"As  to  myself,  I  confess,"  said  he,  "that 
had  I  met  you  anywhere  except  at  Bracieux  I 
should  not  have  recognized  you.     You  have 


%  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP." 

grown  so  and  are  so  much  improved  that  with 
the  exception  of  the  beautiful  forget-me-not 
eyes,  whicli  have  not  changed,  nothing  re- 
mains of  the  baby  of  former  days." 

"  The  name  that  yon  gave  her  remains." 

"  The^name?"  asked  he  in  surprise.  "  What 
name?" 

' '  Bijou.  Don't  you  remember?  It  appears 
that  it  was  you  who  gave  it  to  me." 

"That  is  true.  You  used  to  seem  such  a 
fragile  little  thing  to  me,  so  rare  and  amiable — 
a  little  jewel,  in  fact — an  exquisite  jewel.  So 
they  have  continued  to  call  you  by  that  name? 
It  certainly  suits  you  wonderfully." 

"  I  don't  think  so.  I  fear  that  it  may  seem 
somewhat  absurd  to  be  called  Bijou  at  twenty- 
one — for  I  am  twenty -one,  monsieur." 

"  Is  it  possible?" 

"  Quite  possible.  In  four  years  I  shall  dress 
Saint  Catherine's  hair. " 

The  count  gazed  at  Bijou  with  an  admira- 
tion that  he  did  not  seek  to  disguise,  and  an- 
swered with  conviction: 

"You!    Ah!  no,  indeed!    Par  exemple  T 

Madame  de  Bracieux  now  entered  with  her 
hands  extended,  and  with  a  look  of  joy  ex- 
claimed: 

"Oh!  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you!" 

As  Denyse  made  a  movement  to  leave  the 
room  she  retained  her,  saying  to  Clagny,  who 
still  seemed  lost  in  admiration: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  7^ 

"  I  see  that  Bijou  hasn't  waited  to  be  intro- 
duced. Tell  me  what  you  think  of  my  grand- 
daughter. And  without  giving  him  time  to 
answer  she  resumed  quickly:  "And  she  is 
really  the  same  little  jewel  that  you  used  to 
admire." 

"  Mademoiselle  Denyse  is  enchanting." 

"  Denyse — whom  you  will  do  me  the  kind- 
ness not  to  call  '  mademoiselle  ' — is  a  good 
little  girl,  devoted  and  obedient,  whose  gayety 
brightens  up  my  old  house,  so  sad  before  her 
coming." 

"  How  does  it  happen  that  I  have  never  seen 
Mademoiselle  Denyse " 

"  Mademoiselle  again!"  interrupted  the  mar- 
chioness. 

"That  I  haven't  seen  'Bijou 'in  Paris?  I 
go  to  see  you  so  regularly  on  your  day." 

"  Yes,  but  you  always  come  early,  at  a  time 
when  she  isn't  there;  and  as  you  haven't  cared 
to  dine  with  us  for  sixteen  years " 

"  I  dine 'nowhere,  as  you  well  know.  But 
you  have  never  spoken  to  me  of  Bijou — never 
given  me  any  news  of  her." 

"  Because  you  never  asked  me  for  any." 

"  I  had  forgotten  her — this  little  creature 
whom  I  had  hardly  seen;  and  still,  just  now, 
on  seeing  a  delicious  young  girl  emerge  from 
a  parterre  of  flowers,  I  knew  her  at  once.  Isn't 
it  so,  mademoiselle?"  Recovering  himself,  he 
said  laughingly:  "Isn't  it  so,  Bijou?" 


•J-g  BIJOU'S  COURTSUIP. 

"  It  is  true.  Monsieur  de  Olagny  asked  mo 
at  once  if  I  were  not  Denyse  de  Courtaix,  but  I 
also  knew  at  once  who  iie  was.  I  have  heard 
him  so  much  spoken  of  that  I  have  seen  him 
in  my  dreams,  and  it  seems  very  odd " 

She  stepped,  and  with  a  long  look  at  the 
count  added: 

"  I  Imve  seen  him  in  my  dreams  exactly  as 
he  is." 

"A  very  old  man,"  said  Clagny  gently  and 
rather  sadly. 

"  No,  a  very  handsome  man,"  said  Bijou 
with  sincerity,  then  added  quickly:  "And 
Uncle  Alexis  isn't  here  yet.  There  seems  to 
be  no  good  in  pulling  the  bell  with  all  one's 
might — he  doesn't  come  so.  I  am  going  to 
look  for  him." 

She  was  running  out,  when  the  marchioness 
called  her  back,  saying: 

"  Wait  a  moment!  Tell  them  to  set  another 
place.     You  will  dine  with  us,  Clagny?" 

"  Yes,  if  there  is  no  one  here." 

"But  some  people  are  coming — friends  of 
yours." 

"I  am  a  regular  old  bear  who  never  dines 
with  his  friends;  and  besides,  in  this  suit " 

"  Your  suit  is  good  enough,  and  then  there 
will  be  plenty  of  time  to  send  to  Noriniere  for 
your  coat  if  you  care  to. " 

"  I  do  care  to — if  I  stay." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  79 

Bijou  went  up  to  him  and  coaxingly  said: 

"You  will  stay.  And  do  you  Icnow  what 
would  be  very  very  nice  of  you?  It  would  be 
for  you  to  stay  just  as  you  are — without  the 
coat." 

"  But  why,  if  it  annoys  him  to  stay  without 
changing  his  suit,  do  you  insistr.  Bijou?"  asked 
the  marchioness. 

"  Because,  grandmother,  if  Monsieur  de 
Clagny  doesn't  dress  for  dinner  Monsieur 
Giraud  will  be  able  to  dine  with  us  also,  while 
otherwise  he  will  have  to  dine  alone  in  his 
room." 

"  "What  IS  that  you  are  talking  about?" 

"It  is  very  simple.  Monsieur  Giraud  has 
no  dress-coat — not  a  single  one.  I  learned  it 
by  chance.  .  He  just  now  said  to  Baptiste  that 
he  was  ill  and  would  not  leave  his  room  this 
evening.  Then  if  Monsieur  de  Clagny  would 
stay  just  as  he  is — you  understand — he  could 
also." 

"Come!  You  are  a  good  Bijou,"  said 
Madame  de  Bracieux  with  emotion.  "You 
think  of  everybody.  ■  You  are  always  engaged 
in  giving  pleasure  to  some  one." 

Denyse  was  not  listening;  she  was  awaiting 
the  count's  consent.     At  last  he  asked: 

"  Would  it  give  you  a  great  deal  of  pleasure 
to  have  Monsieur  Giraud  dine  at  the  table?" 

"  Yes." 


80  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Well,  it  shall  be  as  you  wish.  Now  tell 
me:  who  is  this  gentleman  whom  I  do  not 
know  and  for  whose  sake  I  consent  to  appear 
as  an  ill-bred  man?" 

"  He  is  Pierrot's  tutor." 

"Ah!    And  who  is  Pierrot?" 

"The  son  of  Alexis,"  said  Madame  de 
Bracieux,  laughing. 

"  Then  the  god  to  whom  I  am  to  be  sacri- 
ficed is  Monsieur  Giraud,  tutor  to  Pierrot  de 
Jonezac  and  honored  by  the  protection  of 
Mademoiselle  Bijou?  Thank  you  very  much. 
I  like  to  understand  my  position." 

"  But,"  said  Denyse,  who  had  grown  very 
red — "but  I  am  not  protecting  Monsieur 
Giraud  at  all.     I " 

"You  needn't  defend  yourself.  I  can  un- 
derstand the  part  a  poor  tutor  who  has  no 
coat  has  to  play  in  the  life  of  a  pretty  little 
lady  like  yourself.  It  is  a  part  of  sacrifice — 
he  represents  exactly  what  is  called  '  a  walking 
gentleman.'  " 

"You  have  no  idea,"  said  the  marchioness 
as  soon  as  Denyse  had  gone  out,  "how  per- 
fectly lovely  that  child  is.  This  boy  in  whom 
she  interests  herself  and  who  is  really  charm- 
ing is  treated  by  her  exactly  on  the  same 
footing  as  the  most  distinguished  men — those 
who  are  considered  the  very  smartest.  Bijou 
is  a  pearl.     You  will  see  that  for  yourself." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  81 

"  I  shall  see  it  perhaps  too  well." 

"How  too  well?" 

"  Ah,  yes!  I  am  perfectly  incorrigible,  as 
you  know.  I  have  a  stupid  old  heart  which 
starts  off  on  the  slightest  provocation,  and 
then  I  lose  all  control  of  it." 

"But  Bijou  is  my  granddaughter,  my  poor 
friend." 

"  Well,  what  does  that  prove?" 

"It  proves  that  she  might  also  be  your 
own." 

"lam  aware  of  that;  but  all  this  is  only 
reasoning,  and  young  hearts  reason  but  little, 
or  badly." 

"  And  then?" 

"  Why,  then,"  said  Monsieur  de  Clagny  with 
a  forced  laugh,  "I  was  joking,  naturally." 

Bijou  had  crossed  the  court  of  honor.  The 
heat  was  very  great.  The  peacocks,  standing 
on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree,  looked  stupid 
and  absurd;  the  dogs,  stretched  out  on  their 
sides,  were  panting  under  the  ardent  rays  of 
the  sun,  without,  however,  seeking  the  shade. 
No  one  was  out  at  this  torrid  hour  except 
Pierrot,  who,  in  a  suit  of  white  duck  and  with 
a  large  straw  hat  on  his  head,  was  walking  in 
the  shade  of  some  chestnut  trees.  Denyse  ran 
up  the  stairs  and  rushed  into  the  schoolroom 
like  a  whirlwind,  but  stopped  short  at  the 


82  BIJOU'S  COUHTSHIP. 

door  with  an  air  of  embarrassment.  Monsieur 
Giraud,  who  was  seated  at  a  table,  got  up 
quickly  on  seeing  her.     She  murmured: 

"Oh!  I  beg  your  pardon.  I  was  looking 
for  Pierrot.  I  thought  that  he  was  here  and 
that  you  were  taking  your  walk." 

Quite  disconcerted,  the  young  professor  re- 
plied, searching  for  words  and  finding  none; 

"No,  mademoiselle!  No.  I  am  here.  It 
is  Pierrot,  on  the  contrary,  who  has  gone  out, 
but — if  you  would  like — if  I  could  tell  him 
that — for — you  have  probably  something  to 
say  to  him." 

He  completely  lost  his  head  on  seeing  her  so 
pretty,  with  her  skin  so  delicately  pink,  not- 
withstanding the  terrible  heat,  and  her  great 
changing  eyes  gently  fixed  upon  him.  With 
some  embarrassment  she  said: 

"Yes,  certainly,  I  wanted  to  speak  to  Pier- 
rot, but  only  to  him.  Although  what  I  had  to 
say  was  something  that  concerns  you.  It 
would  be  better " 

Giraud  interrupted  her  with  an  air  of 
anxiety. 

"  Which  concerns  me.  But,  really,  I  don't 
understand — I  wonder  if " 

The  idea  came  to  him  that  perhaps  she  was 
going  to  tell  him  that  after  what  had  passed 
on  the  night  before  last  he  could  not  stay  at 
Bracieux  any  longer.     And  he  was  almost  dis- 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  83 

tracted  in  thinking  that  he  must  not  only 
leave  Bijou,  but  also  be  without  a  position  for 
two  months,  when  lie  had  thought  he  was 
safely  and  happily  settled  for  that  period. 

The  young  girl  regarded  him  with  a  kind 
smile  and  at  last  replied: 

"  Because  it  is  rather  a  hard  thing  to  say  to 
— the  one  who  is  interested." 

"But,  then,  Pierrot " 

"Oh!  Pierrot,  who  is  not,  I  am  aware,  a 
skillful  diplomat,  would  nevertheless  have 
known  how  to  tell  you  better  than  I." 

"To  tell  me?" 

"  That  you  are  to  dine  with  us  this  evening. 
A  headache,  don't  you  see,  is  only  a  good  ex- 
cuse for  women,  and  you  will  not  be  the  only 
one  without  a  dress-coat,  as  Monsieur  de 
Clagny  will  have  on  the  suit  he  has  worn  to 
pay  us  a  visit  in;  so  you  understand " 

"  But,  mademoiselle,  without  even  consider- 
ing the  trial  it  would  be  to  me  not  to  be 
dressed  like  the  others,  it  would  certainly  be  a 
piece  of  rudeness  to  your  guests." 

"Yes,  you  are  perhaps  right.  It  would 
seem  rude  if  you  were  the  only  one  not  in 
evening  dress,  but  there  will  be  Monsieur  de 
Clagny,  in  the  same  suit  he  has  worn  to  pay 
us  a  visit  in;  so  you  understand " 

"Mademoiselle,  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  whom 
I  saw  on  his  arrival,  is  an  old  man,  and  as 


84  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

such  he  can  be  allowed  many  things  that  I — 
particularly  in  my  position — I  could  not." 

"You?  You  will  obey  my  grandmother 
like  a  good  little  child,  for  it  was  grandmother 
who  sent  me." 

"  Ah  !"  murmured  the  young  man  with  a 
look  of  disappointment.  "So  it  was  your 
^'^i.mdraother.     I  had   hoped   that  it  was  you 

who But  you  must  bo  vexed  with  me,  that 

is  trut^" 

"Vexed  with  you!  But  why?"  she  asked 
in  surprise. 

"But — because — you  know  well — the  other 
evening,  when,  in  spite  of  myself,  I " 

Bijou's  gay  face  grew  grave  and  she  said 
quite  seriously  : 

' '  I  thought  that  was  something  never  to  be 
mentioned  again.  I  wish  you  to  forget  what 
you  have  said."  She  stood  perfectly  still  for  a 
second  in  a  pensive  attitude,  and  then  added 
in  a  faint  voice:  "Above  all,  I  wish  to  forget 
it  myself." 

Her  eyelids  were  covered,  the  iashes  rising 
and  falling  with  a  rapid  motion  and  throwing 
fantastic  shadows  on  the  rosy  cheeks  suffused 
with  light.  Giraud  walked  up  to  her,  anxious 
and  excited,  and  in  a  low  murmur,  tender  as 
a  caress,  he  asked: 

"  Is  it  true  what  you  have  just  said?  Do 
you  still  remember  that  moment — when  I  was 
road  ?    Can  you  think  of  it  without  anger  ?" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  85 

She  answered,  fixing  her  beautiful  blue  eyes 
full  upon  him: 

"Yes,  I  can  think  of  it  without  anger." 
And  then,  so  low  that  he  could  hardly  hear 
her,  she  murmured :  ' '  And  I  am  always  think- 
ing of  it. "  Then  with  a  sudden  change  of  ex- 
pression she  added:  "  But  you  are  to  forget  it 
now — forget  at  once  what  I  ought  never  to 
have  said  to  you.  I  pray  you  to  do  it  for  i4y 
sake." 

"  Forget  it !  How  can  you  think  that  I  can 
forget  it?  You  know  very  well  that  it  is 
impossible  !" 

"  Still  you  must,"  she  insisted.  *'  Yes,  you 
must  say  to  yourself  that  you  have — that  we 
have  both  had  a  dream,  a  very  sweet  and 
brilliant  dream;  one  of  those  from  which  one 
awakens  happy  and  exalted,  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent, by  a  vision  of  beautiful  things  that  have 
suddenly  vanished  in  air — impossible  to  de- 
scribe. Have  you  never  had  such  dreams? 
One  cannot,  no  matter  how  one  tries,  remem- 
ber them,  and  still  one  loves  them." 

The  caressing  tones  of  her  voice  greatly  dis- 
turbed the  young  man.  He  had  sat  down 
again,  mechanically,  without  answering,  and 
with  his  face  raised  toward  Bijou  he  burst  into 
tears. 

She  approached  him  and  |^said  compassion- 
ately: 


S6  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Are  you  crying.  If  you  only  knew  how  it 
grieves  me  to  see  you  cry!" 

And  then  almost  harshly  she  continued: 

"  And  if  it  is  any  consolation  I  can  tell  you 
that  I  also  am  unhappy." 

Overcome  with  delight,  he  asked: 

"Is  it  possible?" 

Denyse  did  not  reply.  She  had  just  per- 
ceived a  letter  on  the  table  that  Giraud  was 
finishing  as  she  came  into  the  room. 

"  I  was  writing  to  my  brother,"  said  he,  in 
response  to  her  glance,  "and  instead  of  telling 
him  about  my  pupil,  my  occupations,  and  sub- 
jects to  which  I  ought  to  have  confined  my- 
self, I  wrote  of  no  one  but  yourself." 

Placing  her  rosy  finger  on  the  signature,  she 
replied: 

"  I  was  looking  at  your  name.  Fred!  It  is 
a  name  I  love.  I  have  given  it  to  my  godson, 
Bertrade's  youngest  child." 

She  seemed  to  be  gazing  afar  through  the 
open  window  while  she  repeated  softly: 
"Fred!"  Then  suddenly  pressing  her  slender 
hand  to  her  forehead  she  said: 

"  And  the  dinner!  and  my  baskets!  and  the 
menus,  which  are  not  even  written!  and  it  is 
five  o'clock!" 

And  as  the  poor  boy  remained  there,  half- 
stunned  and  without  moving,  she  asked: 

"  It  is  understood,  then,  about  this  evening, 
isn't  it?    I  shall  order  another  place  to  be  set." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  87 

Vaguely  recalled  to  his  senses,  he  replied: 

"Among  all  those  dress-coats  I  shall  pro- 
duce a  disagreeable  effect." 

"  Why,  no,  not  at  all.  And  besides,  there 
will  be  plenty  of  other  coats.  In  the  first 
place,  there  is  Monsieur  de  Clagny  in  a  frock- 
coat,  and  then  Monsieur  de  Bermcs,  who,  fear- 
ing he  may  meet  General  de  Burfieus,  is-always 
in  uniform.  Monsieur  I'Abbe  will  be  in  his 
cassock.  And  she  concluded,  laughing:  ' '  That 
makes  three  already  who  will  not  be  in  dress- 
coats.  " 

As  she  was  leaving  the  schoolroom  she  ran 
against  Henry  de  Bracieux,  who  was  ^coming 
toward  her,  in  the  corridor.  He  asked  in  sur- 
prise: 

"Come!  what  are  you  doing  here?" 

"  And  you?" 

"  I — 1  was  going  back  to  my  room." 

"  Well,  I  was  just  leaving  Pierrot's." 

"  Pierrot  is  in  the  garden." 

"  I  didn't  know  that,  and  I  had  something 
to  say  to  him." 

He  asked  suspiciously  and  almost  aggres- 
sively: 

"  To  him  or  to  Monsieur  Giraud  ?" 

Without  appearing  to  remark  her  cousin's 
singular  manner,  she  replied  gently: 

"  To  him,  so  that  he  could  repeat  it  to  Mon- 
sieur Giraud;  and  as  he  wasn't  there " 


88  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Then  it  was  Giraud  to  whom  you " 

"  Gave  grandmother's  message — yes."  With 
an  innocent  air  she  added:  "Now,  why  does 
it  interest  you  so  much  to  know  to  which  one 
of  them  I  gave  the  message?" 

He  replied  in  a  jesting  tone,  but  witli  some 
embarrassment; 

"  Because  I  am  curious,  probably;  and  to 
prove  that  I  am  curious  I  should  like  to  know 
what  the  message  was." 

"Grandmother  bade  me  tell  'Monsieur  Gi- 
raud, who  hasn't  any  dress-coat " 

* '  Giraud  has  no  dress-coat?" 

"No." 

"  Not  any  at  all?" 

"There!  You  are  saying  exactly  what  I 
did.  No,  not  any  kind  of  a  dress-coat.  He 
had  sent  word  that  he  would  not  dine  with  us, 
then,  as  Monsieur  de  Clagny  is  staying  to  din- 
ner, and  as  he  is  in  a  frock-coat  I  went  to  in- 
form Pierrot,  so  that  he  could  tell  Monsieur 
Giraud.     Do  yon  understand?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Henry,  "  very  well.  But  Jean, 
who  is  so  smart  and  never  travels  without  a 
lot  of  coats — he  must  have  at  least  three  here — 
he  can  very  well  lend  him  one.  They  are  of 
exactly  the  same  height." 

"  That  would  be  nice." 

"Oh,  nothing  would  please  him  better. 
Giraud  is  a  charming  fellow  whom  we  would 
all  like  if " 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  89 

He  stopped  short  and  Bijou  asked: 

"If  what?" 

"  Nothing,  ril  go  and  arrange  this  affair. 
At  Father  Clagny's  age  it  is  of  no  consequence 
how  one  is  dressed;  but  at  Giraud's  age  it  is 
quite  different.  I  am  sure  that  he  would  suffer 
greatly  in  thinking  that  he  was  appearing  in  a 
bad  light,  particularly " 

"  Particularly " 

"  Particularly  before  you." 

Bijou  shrugged  her  shoulders  and  ran  off 
down  the  long  corridor. 


90  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 


VI. 


Although  she  had  superintended  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  table,  the  flowers,  and  the 
melius,  Bijou  was  ready  before  any  of  the 
others. 

Carrying  an  enormous  basket  of  flowers  in 
her  arms,  she  entered  the  drawing-room  just  as 
the  marchioness  was  leaving  it  to  go  to  her 
room  and  dress. 

She  was  so  occupied  in  arranging  her  flowers 
on  a  console  that  she  did  not  see  Monsieur  de 
Clagny,  who  was  regarding  her  earnestly  as 
she  went  backward  and  forward  with  the  pretty 
movements  of  a  bird  fluttering  about  before  it 
alights.  Finally  he  spoke,  and  his  voice 
startled  Denyse: 

"  Surely  that  pretty  gown  must  have  come 
direct  from  Paris?" 

"  Ah!"  said  Bijou  in  confusion.  "  You  gave 
me  such  a  fright."  Then,  coming  up  to  the 
count  and  lightly  patting  her  gown  of  vaporous 
pale  pink  gauze,  she  answered:  "  This  pretty 
frock  did  not  come  from  Paris.  It  was  manu- 
factured at  Bracieux,  near  Pont-dur-Loire." 

Truly  surprised,  the  count  exclaimed: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  91 

"Oh!  really!  and  by  whom?' 

"  By  Denyse,  at  your  service,  and  by  an  old 
seamstress  and  occasional  theatrical  dresser. " 

He  had  arisen  and  was  now  walking  slowly 
around  her,  surveying  her  with  an  air  almost 
of  timid  admiration.  She  was  so  pretty, 
emerging  from  the  rosy  vapor  that  hardly 
seemed  to  touch  her  wondei-ful  little  body  and 
from  which  arose  her  shoulders,  tinted  as  well 
with  a  singular  pinkish  luster  and  imparting 
so  original  an  effect  to  her  downy  and  delicate 
skin.  And  Clagny  thought  Bijou  not  only  be- 
witchingly  pretty,  but  wonderfully  captivating 
with  her  tempting  mouth  and  innocent  eyes. 
And  while  he.  was  examining  her  curiously, 
Bijou  was  saying  to  herself  that  grandmother's 
old  friend  was  much  younger  than  she  had 
thought. 

He  was  a  tall  and  still  slender  man,  really 
good-looking,  with  his  hair  very  white  on  the 
temples  and  his  blond  mustache  as  yet  hardly 
gray.  His  brown  eyes  had  a  sweet  expression, 
and  his  somewhat  supercilious  mouth  when  he 
smiled  revealed  very  white  and  pointed  teeth, 
exactly  like  those  of  a  young  dog,  and  which 
lit  up  his  whole  face  in  a  remarkable  manner. 

The  silence  became  embarrassing,  and  at  last 
Bijou  said: 

"Hasn't  grandmother  come  down  yet?  I 
thought  I  should  find  her  here." 


92  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  She  left  to  go  and  dress  the  moment  before 
you  came  in." 

"She  will  never  be  ready." 

Monsieur  de  Clagny  looked  at  his  watch. 

"But  dinner  is  at  eight  o'clock.  She  has 
plenty  of  time.     It  isn't  half-past  seven  yet." 

"Oh,"  said  Denyse  with  regret,  "  if  I  had 
known  that  I  wouldn't  have  hurried  so  much. 
I  have  such  a  horror  of  being  late." 

"Well,  I  for  one  am  pleased  that  you  did 
hurry.  I  shall  now  be  able  to  talk  with  you 
for  one  little  moment." 

Laughingly  she  said: 

"  For  a  good  half-hour,  at  least;  for  here  no 
one  is  ever  before  the  time — never,  and  the 
guests  are  no  more  in  advance  than  the  people 
in  the  house." 

"Oh  I  And  about  the  guests — tell  now 
with  whom  I  am  going  to  dine.  Your  grand- 
mother said,  '  You  will  dine  with  some  old 
friends  of  yours.'  Now,  of  friends  I  should 
not  have  many,  as  it  is  twelve  years  since  I 
have  been  in  the  country  and  the  inhabitants 
have  probably  changed." 

"Not  as  much  as  all  that.  Let  us  see.  You 
will  dine  with  the  Tourvilles " 

' '  The  Tourvilles  ?    Aren't  they  dead  yet  ?" 

"  Those  with  whom  you  are  going  to  dine 
are  living.  They  had  some  relations  who  are 
now  dead." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  93 

"Ah!  A  la  bonne  heure !  Then  little 
Tourville  is  married  ?" 

"Two  years  ago." 

"  He  was  quite  ugly.  Did  he  make  a  good 
marriage  ?" 

"  That  depends.  He  married  Mademoiselle 
Chaillot,  a  young  lady  of  the  Bourse." 

"  What,  a  young  lady  of  the  Bourse  ?" 

"Yes.  Her  father  works  in  the  Bourse.  I 
believe  he  is  very,  very  rich." 

" Is  he  Chaillot,  the  banker?" 

"Very  likely.  I  never  inquired.  They 
have  restored  Tourville — it  is  superb;  and  they 
entertain  constantly." 

"  Is  Madame  de  Tourville  pretty  ?" 

"  You  will  see.  She  is  very  amiable  and 
very  intelligent,  they  say.  As  to  me,  I  never 
perceived  it." 

And  as  Monsieur  de  Clagny  smiled  she  added 
quickly: 

"  Because  I  know  her  so  slightly." 

"And  besides  the  Tourvilles  who  else  is 
there  ?"  he  questioned. 

"  Monsieur  de  Bernes " 

"Little  Hubert,  the  dragoon ?" 

"The  same." 

"He  is  the  son  of  some  good  friends  of 
mine,  and  as  nice  as  can  be.  Don't  you  think 
so?" 

"Think  what?" 


94  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  That  Hubert  de  Bern5s  is  nice  ?" 

"Oh,  I  know  him  so  slightlj'.  He  always 
seemed  to  me — how  can  I  express  it  ? — color- 
less; yes,  colorless." 

"  Because  you  frighten  him,  probably.  I  can 
understand  how  that  might  be." 

Laughingly  she  said: 

"  Perhaps  I  intimidate  you  ?" 

"Very  seriously  he  replied: 

"A  great  deal." 

"Oh!"  cried  she  in  surprise,  "is  it  pos- 
sible ?" 

"It  is  very  possible  and  it  is  true.  So  if 
you  can  intimidate  an  old  man  like  me  it  isn't 
surprising  that  you  should  intimidate  little 
Hubert." 

"  Little  Hubert !     Why,  he  is  six  feet  tall. " 

"Yes,  but  he  is  only  twenty-six  years  old, 
and  to  me  he  will  always  be  little  Hubert.  In 
any  case,  you  will  at  least  agree  that  he  is  a 
handsome  fellow  ?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  have 
never  looked  at  him  ?" 

"I  have  looked  at  him,  but  as  far  as  Mon- 
sieur de  Bernes  is  concerned  I  am  a  very  poor 
judge." 

"And  why?" 

"  Because  I  detest  very  young  men." 

"At  twenty-six  one  is  no  longer  a  very 
young  man." 


"/  am  going  to  accompuny  myself  on  the  guitar!''' 

CHAP.   VII 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  95 

"That  may  be;  but  at  that  age  they  do  not 
exist  for  me." 

"  Ah,  indeed!  And  at  what  age  do  they 
begin  to  exist  for  you  ?" 

She  began  to  laugh. 

"Very  late." 

Then  changing  her  tone: 

"I  am  glad  that  you  know  Monsieur  de 
Bernfes,  for  then,  at  least,  you  will  not  be  too 
greatly  bored  this  evening." 

"  Ah!  It  appears,  then,  that  I  mustn't  de- 
pend upon  the  other  guests  to  amuse  me  ?" 

"Oh,  no.  The  others— there  are  first  the 
La  Balucs." 

"Goodness!  They  are  terrifying.  And 
their  children?  They  ought  to  be  growing  up 
by  this  time." 

' '  They  have  even  stopped.  Louis  is  twenty- 
three  and  Gisfele  twenty-two." 

"  What  are  they  like  ?" 

"  He  poses,  to  the  disgust  of  everybody.  He 
is  never  hungry  or  thirsty  or  sleepy  any  more. 
He  likes  nothing,  everything  annoyc  him,  and 
it  isn't  true,  you  know.  He  never  misses  a 
ball,  and  his  sister  tells  how  he  gets  up  in  the 
night  and  eats  when  no  one  sees  him.  And 
then  he  writes  ridiculous  poetry,  paints  pictures 
as  absurd  as  his  verses,  and  music— oh!  what 
music!" 

"  And  the  girl  ?" 


96  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.' 

"  She  is  as  masculine  as  her  brother  is  effem- 
inate. Goes  stag-hunting  and  dreams  of 
having  a  complete  equipment,  and  that  she 
can  dispatch  the  stag  herself,  and  also  dreams 
of  marrying  an  officer." 

"  She  must  be  interested  in  Hubert." 

"  Who  do  you  mean  by  Hubert  ?" 

"Littles  Bern^s." 

"Oh,  no.  I  don't  think  so.  In  any  case, 
he  isn't  in  the  least  interested  in  her." 

"Because  he  is  interested  in  you,  like  all 
the  othei's.     Isn't  it  so?" 

"Not  the  least  in  the  world." 

"  Monsieur  de  Clagny  shrugged  his  shoulders 
and  exclaimed: 

"  Come,  now!  it  is  perfectly  clear  to  me." 

"There  are  now  only  three  remaining 
guests  for  me  to  present  to  you,"  resumed 
Bijou,  evidently  seeking  to  change  the  con- 
versation: "The  Juzencourts,  and  they  are 
bringing  a  friend  who  has  come  to  pass  a 
month  with  them.  A  delightful  little  widow, 
the  Viscountess  of  Neizel." 

"What!"  said  the  count,  with  a  sudden 
gesture,  "  Madame  de  Neizel  ?  Jean  de  Blaye 
is  then  here  ?" 

Denyse  opened  her  beautiful  clear  eyes  to 
the  fullest  extent,  and  answered  in  surprise: 

"  Yes,  Jean  is  here,  but — what  connection 
is  there  ?" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  97 

"Not  any!  Not  any!"  quickly  asserted  M. 
de  Clagny,  and  after  a  moment's  silence  he 
asked: 

"  Is  she  still  i:)retty?  Madame  de  Neizel," 

"Very  pretty." 

' '  As  pretty  as  you  ?" 

Bijou  smiled. 

"  Why  do  you  make  fun  of  me?  I  know 
very  well  that  I  am  not  pretty." 

"It  is  now  my  turn,  my  dear  little  Bijou,  to 
ask  you  why  you  make  fun  of  an  old  friend 
who  admires  you  with  all  his  heart,  and  who 
is  not  the  only  one,  alas!" 

"Why  alas?" 

"Because  when  one  admires,  or  when  one 
loves,  one  would  like  to  be  the  only  one  to  love 
and  admire;  friendship  is  selfish  and  jealous." 

With  a  merry  smile  she  asked : 

"And  since — let  us  see! — how  long? — three 
hours — since  the  last  three  hours  when  our 
acquaintance  began  you  have  already  formed  a 
friendship  for  me?" 

M.  de  Clagny  answered  seriously,  and  almost 
with  emotion: 

"A  very  great  one!" 

"So  much  the  better,  because,  don't  you 
see  ?  I  also  like  you  very  much,  oh!  very,  very 
much!" 

And  as  if  speaking  to  herself,  she  added: 

"  I  had  formed  such  a  different  idea  of  you 


98  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

— I  had  expected  to  see  quite  another  sort  of 
person." 

"  A  younger  man  ?"  he  said  sadly. 

"On  the  contrary.  They  had  represented 
you  as  a  friend  of  my  grandfather.  Grand- 
mother always  spoke  of  you  '  as  my  old  friend 
Clagny.'  And  so,  you  understand,  when  I 
saw  you  I  received  a  shock." 

"Why?" 

"  Because  you  gave  me  the  effect  of  being — 
I  can't  say  exactly  how  old — but  about  forty- 
five;  in  fact,  about  the  age  of  Paul  do  Kueille. 

I  then You  are  very  handsome,  and   I 

think  a  great  deal  of  good  looks." 

"Your  cousin  De  Blaye  is  a  good-looking 
man." 

She  appeared  to  reflect  for  a  moment: 

"Jean?  Is  he  so  very  handsome?  He 
doesn't  give  me  that  effect.  And  besides, 
you  know,  when  one  lives  in  the  same  house, 
one  ends  by  never  seeing  each  other." 

"  I  am  very  sure  that  he  sees  you." 

"  Oh,  no.  People  don't  look  at  me  as  much 
as  you  think.  They  like  me  because  I  was 
left  all  alone  in  the  world  at  seventeen.  And 
then,  when  grandmother  took  me,  like  a  poor 
little  stray  dog,  and  gave  me  a  home  with  her, 
they  all  interested  themselves  in  me,  and  gave 
me  a  kind  welcome.  I  have  become  the  Bijou 
whom  they  have  brought  up  and  whom  they 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  99 

spoil,  whose  faults  they  overlook,  and  who 
always  has  her  own  way." 

"And  there  the  Bijou  is  right.  The  only 
pleasure  in  life  is  to  have  one's  own  way  when 
one  can." 

"  One  always  can,"  she  said,  apparently 
without  beiug  conscious  that  she  was  speaking. 

Then  running  to  the  bay  window,  she  cried: 

"Come,  this  is  nice.  Here  are  the  Tour- 
villes,  and  grandmother  isn't  down  yet." 

She  ran  forward  to  meet  a  lady  who  was 
advancing,  frightfully  overdressed,  and  who 
was  followed  by  a  common-looking  man,  with 
an  air  of  affected  dignity  and  extremely  snob- 
bish appearance. 

Bijou  introduced  the  Count  de  Clagny  to 
the  Count  de  Tourville.  Then  as  the  countess 
entered,  still  beautiful  in  the  cloud  of  lace  that 
enveloped  her,  she  returned  to  talk  with  M.  de 
Clagny. 

"Well,"  said  she,  "what  do  you  think  of 
the  Tourvilles  ?" 

"  I  don't  like  them.  But  I  find  Henry  de 
Bracieux  greatly  improved.  He  is  not  quite 
as  good-looking  as  his  cousin  yet,  but  he  may 
be,  perhaps." 

"As  good-looking  as  what  cousin?" 

"Why,  Blaye." 

"  Again!  Ah,  really.  You  seem  to  think  a 
great  deal  of  Jean's  beauty. " 


100  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

'■^  ZTon  Dieu!  Beauty  is  perhaps  not  exactly 
the  word,  but  he  is  charming,  you  will  admit." 

"I  will  admit  that." 

"  That  reminds  me.  Tell  me,  now,  who  is 
that -very  nice-looking  young  fellow  whom  I 
met  a  little  while  ago  at  the  end  of  the  avenue?" 

"  Dear  me!  I  don't  know!  Unless  it  were 
Pierrot's  tutor.  But,  he  is  not  so  very  nice- 
looking  as  you  seem  to  think." 

M.  de  Clagny  motioned  with  his  hand  to- 
ward the  door  and  said: 

'•There  he  is." 

"Ah!"  said  Bijou  in  surprise,  "  can  it  be?" 

She  was  amazed,  both  at  the  admiration  ex- 
pressed by  the  count,  and  by  the  transforma- 
tion wrought  by  Jean's  coat.  In  this  well-cut 
garment,  which  was  wonderfully  becoming  to 
him,  the  young  professor  appeared  thoroughly 
at  his  ease,  and  almost  distinguished.  And 
Henry,  approaching  Denyse,  asked,  pointing 
to  Giraud: 

"  iZem/  Wasn't  that  a  fine  idea  of  mine? 
No,  but  did  you  ever  see  such  a  difference?" 

And  as  she  did  not  answer  soon  enough  to 
suit  him,  he  added: 

"I'll  bet  that  you  don't.  Women  never 
observe  that  sort  of  thing  where  men  are  con- 
cerned." 

The  guests  were  all  arriving.  First  the  La 
Balues,  imperturbable  and  absurd  enough  to 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  lol 

excite  involuntary  derision,  eacli  one  equally 
ridiculous  in  his  own  particular  style,  but  so 
happy  and  self  satisfied,  that  it  would  really 
have  been  a  pity  to  undeceive  them. 

Then  Hubert  de  Bernes,  who  came,  as  Bijou 
had  predicted,  in  uniform,  and  who  was  gaz- 
ing searchingly  all  around  the  room,  as  if  pass- 
ing the  guests  in  review.  The  Juzencourts 
were  the  last  to  come,  bringing  with  them  Ma- 
dame de  Neizel,  a  very  pretty  woman,  of  a 
supple  and  delicate  beauty,  with  the  languorous 
grace  of  a  Creole,  a  complexion  of  jasmine, 
and  heavy  silken  hair,  intensely  black  of  hue. 

Bijou,  who  was  regarding  her  curiously,  as 
if  she  had  never  seen  her  before,  said  to  Mon- 
sieur de  Clagny: 

"Madame  de  Neizel  is  really  very  pretty." 

"Bijou,"  the  marchioness  called  out,  "Ma- 
dame de  Juzcncourt  wants  to  see  the  children. 
Go  and  get  them.  With  your  permission,  Ber- 
trade,  and  with  yours  also.  Monsieur  I'Abbe." 

Monsieur  de  Clagny  made  a  gesture  of  an- 
noyance on  being  thus  separated  from  Denyse. 
It  already  seemed  to  him  as  if  he  could  no 
longer  get  on  without  her.  She  came  back 
very  quickly,  followed  by  Marcel  and  Robert, 
and  leading  by  the  hand  a  superb  baby  of  four 
years,  with  an  amiable  and  confiding  smile. 

"Here  is  my  godson," ^said  she  proudly. 
"  Isn't  he  sweet,  and  beautiful,  and  good. 
He's  a  perfect  level'' 


102  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  She  is  so  nice  to  that  chihl,"  said  Madame 
de  Rueille;  "she  is  always  doing  somethiug 
for  him.  It  was  she  who  taught  him  how  to 
read." 

"Already!"  said  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  in  a 
tone  of  reproach,  "they  have  taught  him  to 
read  already  ?" 

"  Bijou  teaches  him  many  other  things,  don't 
you,  Bijou  ?"  asked  the  marchioness.  "  It  ap- 
pears you  are  now  instructing  your  pupil  in 
sacred  history;  for,  two  days  ago,  he  told  me 
all  about  Moses;  he  knew  it  all  very  well." 

"Ah!  par  ea;empZe,"  said  the  count  in  a 
teasing  tone;  "I  should  like  to  hear  it.  Go 
on,  unfortunate  infant." 

Graceful  and  tender,  Bijou  knelt  down  be- 
fore the  baby,  but  on  hearing  them  speak  about 
telling  his  "story,"  the  poor  little  boy  turned 
toward  her  with  an  imploring  face. 

"Tell  it,  Fred,"  said  she. 

Submissive,  but  discontented,  the  little  one 
raised  his  eyes  to  his  godmother's  face. 

"Tell  about  Moses — you  know  it  perfectly." 

"Well, "said Fred,  in  a  resolute  tone.  "  They 
put  little  Moses  in  a  little  basket,  and  they  put 
the  little  basket  in  the  Nile." 

He  paused,  his  forehead  bathed  in  perspira- 
tion, but  Bijou  said: 

'  'And  then  what  happened?" 

"  Don't  know,"  said  the  little  one  shortly; 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  103 

"  don't  know  any  more — don't  know  any  more, 
I  tell  you.     You  tell  what  happened." 

"Come,  come,  aren't  you  going  on?"  said 
Bijou. 

"  Please  don't  make  me,"  he  begged. 

But  Bijou  insisted: 

"  Yes,  but  you  must  Something  happened 
while  Moses  was  on  the  Nile.  What  was  it  ? 
What  was  it  that  happened  ?" 

He  thought  for  a  moment,  frowning  with 
closed  eyes,  and  just  as  they  had  given  up  all 
hopes  of  hearing,  he  cried,  delighted  with  his 
discovery: 

"  It  was  '  Buss  in  Boots '  who  came,  and  who 
cried :  '  Help !  the  Marquis  of  Carabas  is  drown- 
ing !♦' 

"There!"  said  Bertrade,  laughing;  "this  is 
the  result  of  teaching  so  many  fine  things  at 
the  same  time." 

And  Monsieur  de  Rueille  added: 

"  Two  days  ago  Denyse  gave  him  the  mar- 
velous '  Puss  in  Boots  '  that  we  brought  from 
Pontsur-Louise,  and  which  has  done  Moses 
such  great  injustice." 

Bijou  turned  toward  her  cousin  and  asked, 
with  a  surprised  air: 

"Denyse!  Since  when  have  you  called  me 
Denyse?" 

"Why,"  replied  Rueille,  "I  don't  know;  it 
Bometimes  happens." 


104  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

*  *  Never,   So  I  thought  that  you  were  angry.  '* 

Then  stooping  down  to  her  godson,  she  took 
him  in  her  arms  and  said,  while  laughing: 

"  My  poor  little  Fred!  we  haven't  either  of 
us  been  much  of  a  success." 

Giraud,  who  was  at  this  moment  standing 
behind  her,  regarded  her  with  admiration. 
She  pressed  the  child,  who  was  smiling  upon 
her,  closer  to  her  and  murmured  in  a  caress- 
ing voice: 

"Fred,  my  darling  Fred,  I  love  you  so 
much;  if  you  only  knew " 

On  hearing  his  name  pronounced  with  such 
tenderness  the  young  professor  had  trembled 
from  head  to  foot,  and  with  great  difficulty 
had  restrained  the  impulse  that  impelled  him 
toward  Denyse.  And  he  had  grown  so  pale, 
his  face  was  so  strangely  drawn,  that  Pierrot, 
who  was  not  very  observant  or  particularly 
penetrating  where  Bijou  was  not  concerned, 
asked : 

"What  is  the  matter  with  you.  Monsieur 
Giraud  ?    How  odd  you  look!    Are  you  ill  ?" 

Denyse  turned  quickly  around  and  asked 
with  interest: 

"Are  you  ill.  Monsieur  Giraud?" 

"  I  ?  "Why,  not  at  all,  mademoiselle.  I  don't 
know  where  Pierrot  got  such  an  idea." 

"i)ame.'"  said  the  perverse  boy,  uncon- 
vinced, "just  look  at  yourself — such  a  sight  as 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  105 

you  are.  Besides,  you  haven't  been  up  to  the 
mark  for  the  last  three  or  four  days.  You 
must  have  something  the  matter  vrith  you  that 
you  don't  know  anything  about." 

"I  assure  you,"  murmured  the  unfortunate 
youth  in  torment,  "I  assure  you  that  there  is 
nothing  whatsoever  the  matter  with  me." 

Monsieur  de  Clagny  had  drawn  near,  he  re- 
garded little  Fred  (whose  head  was  on  Bijou's 
shoulder)  with  envy  and  said: 

"Your  godson  is  superb!" 
I    "  Yes,  isn't  he?    And  he  adores  me!" 

As  they  were  announcing  dinner,  she  gave 
the  baby  who  was  already  asleep  to  the  Eng- 
lish nurse,  who  had  come  in  meanwhile. 
Standing  before  her,  with  a  disagreeable  ex- 
pression, little  La  Balue  was  offering  the  acute 
angle  of  his  arm.  She  placed  her  hand  in  it 
with  difficulty,  and,  resigned  to  hei'fate,  seated 
herself  at  the  table,  between  her  cavalier  and 
Monsieur  Giraud.  Giraud,  mad  with  joy,  on 
finding  himself  near  her,  became  more  awk- 
ward and  embarrassed  than  ever.  His  timid- 
ity, already  great,  increased  with  the  violence 
of  his  admiration.  He  literally  did  not  dare 
to  say  a  word,  and  was  in  despair,  feeling  that 
he  appeared  absurd.  He  was  not  only  in  love 
with  Denyse,  with  her  beauty,  her  grace,  and 
her  wonderful  charm,  but  he  worshipped  her, 
too,  for  her  goodness  of  heart,  which  appeared 
to  him  now  to  be  infinite. 


106  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

He  had  one  day  murmured  evasive  words  of 
love  to  a  daughter  of  the  principal  of  a  school, 
where  he  was  a  master,  and  he  remembered, 
not  without  fear,  the  angry  contempt  with 
which  the  young  hourgeoise  had  reproached 
him,  for  daring  to  lift  his  eyes  to  her. 

And  now  he  had  told  this  rich  and  beautiful 
daughter  of  a  great  house,  frankly  and  crudely, 
that  he  adored  her,  and  her  answer  had  been 
given  only  in  sweet  and  affectionate  words, 
that  discouraged  without  wounding  him,  and 
then  he  grew  sad  over  himself,  knowing  well 
that  his  life,  crossed  by  this  impossible  love, 
would  be  forever  marred. 

How  could  he  hope,  after  having  known  and 
loved  a  woman  like  Mademoiselle  de  Courtaix, 
that  he  should  ever  be  able  to  care  for  any 
woman  whom  his  position  would  entitle  him  to 
marry  ? 

And  the  poor  boy,  who,  up  to  three  weeks 
ago,  had  sometimes  dreamed  of  a  snug  apart- 
ment, presided  over  by  a  little  woman,  fresh, 
unassuming  and  modest,  now  saw  himself  for- 
ever c  ndemned  to  the  miserable  furnished 
room,  fhere  he  would  some  day  perish,  sur- 
rounded by  photographs  of  Bijou,  wrested  with 
infinite  pains  from  his  pupil  Pierrot. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  dinner,  Denyse 
spoke  but  little.  Her  glances  wandered  about 
the  table,  and  discovered  a  thousand  trifles,  so 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  107 

amusing  to  those  who  can  detect  them.  Ma- 
dame de  Bracieux  had  at  her  right  Madame 
de  Balue,  whom  she  somewhat  neglected  for 
her  old  friend  Clagny,  placed  at  her  left  and 
with  whom  she  kept  up  a  ceaseless  flow  of  con- 
versation. Monsieur  de  Jonezac,  seated  oppo- 
site his  sister,  between  Madame  de  la  Balue, 
and  Madame  de  Tourville,  seemed  to  be  but 
slightly  amused,  no  more  in  fact  than  Madame 
de  Neizel,  who,  with  a  rather  sad  look,  did  not 
interest  herself  very  much  in  her  neighbors 
Henry  de  Bracieux  and  Monsieur  de  Rueille, 
and  often  glanced  in  the  direction  of  Jean  de 
Blaye,  who  was  seated  at  the  other  end  of  the 
table  between  Madame  de  Juzencourt  and 
Mademoiselle  de  la  Balue.  He  appeared  to 
be  paying  no  attention  at  all  to  Madame  de 
Neizel,  and  many  times  Bijou's  eyes  encoun- 
tered his.  As  if  this  meeting  had  annoyed 
her,  she  turned  toward  little  La  Balue,  and, 
suddenly  growing  amiable,  began  to  talk  with 
animation.  Then  Jean's  somewhat  anxious 
glance  rested  full  upon  her,  and  th  re  re- 
mained. \ 


106  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 


VII. 

After  dinner  in  the  drawing-room,  as  the 
heat  was  overpowering,  Madanae  de  Bracieux 
said: 

"Those  who  are  not  afraid  of  the  evening 
dew,  /ou  know,  can  go  out  on  the  terrace,  or 
in  the  garden." 

Gisele  de  la  Balue,  a  tall  stout  girl,  mod- 
eled on  the  lines  of  the  statues  in  the  Place  de 
la  Concorde,  and  who  affected  free  and  boyish 
manners,  rushed  out  noisily  crying: 

"  Who  loves  me  follows  me!" 

Hubert  de  Bern^s  politely  took  the  hint. 

Rueille,  Henry  de  Bracieux,  Pierrot  and 
Monsieur  Giraud  turned  as  one  man  to  Denyse, 
and  Pierrot  asked: 

"Are  you  coming,  Bijou?" 

She  saw  Jean  de  Blaye  go  out  talking  to 
Madame  de  Neizel  and  answered: 

"  In  a  minute  I  will  rejoin  you.  I  am  going 
to  see  if  the  children  have  gone  to  bed." 

"But,  mademoiselle,"  proposed  the  abb6, 
"  I  can  spare  you  that  trouble." 

"No.  Thanks,  Monsieur  I'Abbe.  But  you 
know  I  am  not  happy  when  I  haven't  given 
Fred  a  kiss." 


BIJOU'S  COUHTSHIP.  109 

'  She  went  out  by  a  door  opposite  the  terrace, 
and  Monsieur  de  Clagny  said  to  the  marchion- 
ess: 

"  Your  granddaughter  is  decidedly  the  most 
charming  child  imaginable." 

And  he  added  sorrowfully: 

"It  is  when  one  meets  women  like  that,  that 
one  regrets  being  old  !" 

"I  confess,"  said  Madame  de  Bracisux, 
laughing,  that  even  when  you  were  your  j^,  you 
were  hardly  the  husband  I  should  have 
dreamed  of  for  Bijou!" 

"  And  why  not,  if  you  please  ?" 

"  Why,  because  you  have — or  at  least  you 
had — a  rather— how  shall  I  express  it?  A 
rather  capacious  heart." 

"A  capacious  heart!  Ah,  yes,  parhleu ! 
You  are  right !  But  then  it  was  the  fault  of 
those  who  didn't  know  how  to  hold  me.  I  can 
assure  you  that  with  a  woman  like  Bijou,  I 
should  never  have  had,  what  you  are  pleased 
to  call  '  a  capacious  heart.'  " 

"  N'onsense,"  said  Madame  de  Bracieux  in- 
credulously, "  how  can  one  ever  tell  ?" 

On  leaving  the  drawing-room,  Bijou  crossed 
the  vestibule,  and  instead  of  going  up  the  large 
staircase  which  led  to  the  children's  room,  she 
raised  the  heavy  tapestry  of  shaded  green 
foliage  that  concealed  the  door  of  the  butler's 
pantry,  then  just  as  she  was  opening  the  door 


110  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

she  came  back  and  took  down  from  a  hook  in 
the  vestibule  a  long,  dark  cloak,  a  mackintosh 
that  she  was  in  the  habit  of  wearing  in  rainy 
weather.  She  wrapped  herself  up  in  it  quick- 
ly and  went  into  the  butler's  pantry  where  it 
was  perfectly  dark.  From  the  kitchen  came 
the  loud,  coarse  voices  of  the  servants  who  were 
dining  noisily.  Denyse  approached  the  open 
window,  then  gathering  up  her  skirts  she 
mounted  a  chair,  stepped  up  on  the  window 
sill,  and  jumped  down  lightly  into  the  garden. 
There  she  hesitated  for  a  moment.  The  ter- 
race could  be  seen  distinctly  in  the  light  from 
the  drawing-rooms,  and  under  the  shadows  of 
the  chestnut  trees  she  could  distinguish  the  red 
glow  of  cigars.  Suddenly  pulling  up  the  hood 
of  her  cloak,  she  started  on  a  run  down  the 
dark  alley  which  led  to  the  avenue. 

All  this  time  her  admirers  were  waiting  on 
the  terrace  for  her  to  come  and  rejoin  them, 
as  she  had  promised,  and  the  stout  Gisele 
endeavored  in  vain  to  organize  a  game  of  hide- 
and-seek.  The  men  lacked  enthusiasm;  Ma- 
dame de  Tourville  feared  to  injure  her  gown; 
and  Madame  de  Juzencourt  was  walking  with 
Jean  de  Blaye  and  Madanie  de  Neizel;  she, 
however,  soon  returned  alone;  and  as,  insist- 
ing. Mademoiselle  de  la  Balue  wished  to  drag 
her  off  to  play,  she  refused  with  energy.  She 
was  certainly  not  going  to  run,  when  she  was 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  m 

already  much  too  warm  from  walking.  She 
had  even  been  forced  to  leave  Therese  and 
Monsieur  de  Blaye  and  she  wasn't  equal  to  any 
further  exertion.  Left  alone,  Jean  and  Ma- 
dame de  Neizel  had  continued  their  walk, 
she  calmly  carrying  on  the  conversation  al- 
ready begun,  he  preoccupied  and  uneasy.  '  At 
last,  unable  to  contain  himself  longer,  he 
asked: 

"Why  do  you  not  reproach  me?  Why  do 
you  not  say  some  of  the  terrible  things  that 
you  are  thinking  about  me  ?" 

She  answered  very  gently: 

"  Because  I  have  nothing  to  reproach  you 
about.  Because  I  do  not  think  of  you  un- 
kindly." 

"That  means,  then,  that  you  love  me  no 
longer  ?" 

In  a  tone  so  sad  that  it  quite  overcame  him, 
she  answered: 

"  I  no  longer  love  you  ?    I " 

He  felt  that  she  did  love  him  so  deeply,  that 
he  could  not  bear  to  think  of -the  fearful  distress 
it  would  cause  her,  if  he  were  sincere  with 
hei",  and  from  motives  of  affection  he  forced 
himself  to  prevaricate: 

"  Yes,"  said  he,  "you  ought  to  know  that  I 
think  only  of  you." 

"Ah  !  my  poor  Jean,"  she  replied,  "  instead 
of  such  a  falsehood,  you  would  do  far  better 
to  tell  me  the  truth." 


112  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"And  the  truth,  you  think,  is  that  I  lovo 
you  no  more  ?" 

"  Yes,  that  is  a  part  of  the  truth." 

Anxiously  he  inquired: 

"And  what  is  the  rest ?" 

"It  is  that  you  love  Mademoiselle  de  Cour- 
taix.  Ah  !  don't  tell  me  it  isn't.  It  is  so 
clear." 

And  after  a  moment's  silence  he  added: 

"And  so  natui'al!" 

"Will  you  forgive  me?" 

"I  have  nothing  to  forgive." 

In  broken  accents  he  murmured  anxiously: 

"So  you  don't  mean  to  care  for  me  any 
more  ?' 

Amazed  at  such  ingenuous  selfishness,  she 
answered: 

"And  so  you  wish  that  I  should  continue  to 
care  for  you!" 

"  Do  I  wish  it  ?  But  what  would  become  of 
me  without  you — you,  who  are  all  my  life  ?" 

And  as  she  drew  back  in  horror  he  went  on: 

"Ah!  but  what  have  you  thought — that  I 
was  going  to  marry  Bijou  perhaps  ?" 

"Why,  yes." 

He  was  going  on  to  explain  why  he  could 
not  marry  his  cousin,  but  reflected  that  the 
material  impossibility  might  wound  Madame 
de  Neizel,  whom  he  tenderly  loved.  So  he 
said: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  113 

"  Bijou  is  only  a  sudden  and  passing  fancy 
for  me.  What  could  you  expect  ?  It  is  impos- 
sible to  live  near  her  and  not  be  intoxicated 
by  her  beauty  and  bewildered  by  her  frank 
and  unconscious  coquetry.  For  fifteen  days  I 
have  been  mad,  and  am  so  still.  But  on  see- 
ing you  again  this  evening  I  feci  that  it  is  you 
alone  whom  I  love — you  alone  to  whom  I  be- 
long." 

He  drew  Madame  de  NeizeFs  pale  face  to  his 
shoulder,  and  stooping  down  he  pressed  his 
lips  to  her  fresh  and  beautiful  mouth,  and 
holding  her  in  his  embrace  he  said,  in  warm 
and  caressing  tones: 

"  Do  you  think  I  could  love,  as  I  love  you, 
that  child  whose  finger-tips  I  have  never  even 
touched  ?  Oh,  forgive  me,  you  who  are  so 
kind!  For  if  I  have  offended,  it  was  only  in 
thought." 

"  I  love  you  still,"  she  replied.  "But  let 
us  go  back  at  once;  they  will  be  thinking  that 
we  are  taking  a  very  long  walk." 

On  seeing  them,  Madame  de  Juzencourt, 
who  was  seated  on  the  terrace,  called  out  to 
them: 

"What!  have  you  been  walking  all  this 
time  ?" 

At  the  same  moment  Monsieur  de  Rueille 
was  saying  to  Bijou,  who  had  just  appeared  at 
the  window: 


114  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  So  this  is  the  way  that  you  come  back  to 
join  us.     It  is  very  nice  of  you." 

"  I  couldn't  come  back  sooner,"  she  replied, 
turning  to  go  out  by  the  door. 

And  lowering  her  voice,  she  added,  drawing 
closer  to  her  cousin,  Pierrot: 

"I  had  to  see  about  the  tea,  the  ices,  etc., 
etc.     You  mustn't  be  angry  with  me." 

"Be  angry  with  you!"  said  Pierrot  energet- 
ically !     '  \Could  any  one  be  angry  with  you  ? ' 

Bijou  did  not  reply.  She  was  paying  no 
attention,  but  looking  at  Hubert  de  Bernes, 
who  was  talking  with  Bertrade,  and  she  was 
surprised  to  find  him  so  indifferent  to  her.  To 
be  sure,  he  was  polite,  amiable  even,  but 
nothing  more,  and  she  was  not  accustomed  to 
so  much  moderation. 

Monsieur  de  Clagny  appeared  at  a  window 
and  called: 

"  Mademoiselle  Bijou,  your  grandmother  is 
asking  for  you." 

Denyse  flew  away  in  &, froufrou  of  skirts, 
without  even  replying  to  little  Balue,  who  was 
saying  to  h^r,  while  pointing  to  Henry  de 
Bracieux,  whose  profile  stood  out  in  full  light: 

"  Henry  is  very  handsome,  isn't  he  ? ' 

"Bijou,"  said  the  marchioness,  "are  you 
not  going  to  sing  something  for  us  ?" 

"Oh!  but,  grandmother,  I  beg  of  you,"  she 
implored,  greatly  annoyed. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  II5 

But  Madame  de  Bracieux  insisted: 
"Monsieur  de  Clagny  wants  to  hear  you." 
"Oh!  then   I  am  quite  willing,"  said  Bijou 
sweetly,  without  taking  into  consideration  that 
this  mode  of  consent  was  not  a  very  gracious 
one  to  her  grandmother's  other  guests. 

She  went  and  took  a  guitar  off  of  the  piano, 
passed  the  pink  ribbon  that  was  attached  to  it 
over  her  head,  and  coming  back,  seated  her- 
self in  the  middle  of  the  half-circle  formed  by 
the  easy  chairs,  saying: 

"I  am  going  to  accompany  myself  on  the 
guitar.  I  like  it  better.  It  is  more  easily  man- 
aged." Then  turning  to  Monsieur  de  Clagny, 
she  continued:  "  What  would  you  like  to  have 
me  sing  for  you  ?  Do  you  care  for  old  songs  ?" 
And  without  waiting  she  began  to  sing  "The 
Little  Soldier:" 

"  Jeme  suis  engage 
Pour  Vatnour  d'une  blonde.''^ 

[I  have  enlisted 

In  the  love  of  a  blond.] 

She  had  a  true  voice,  which  she  managed 
cleverly,  and  she  sang  with  plaintive  sweetness 
the  ever-touching  story  of  the  little  soldier  who 
wishes  his  heart  to  be  wrapped  "  in  a  napkin 
white. " 

The  drawing-room  was  filled  as  soon  as  Bijou 
began  to  sing,  and  the  faces  were  truly  amus- 


116  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

ing  to  soe.  Joan  was  listening,  nervously 
pulling  his  blond  mustache.  Monsieur  do 
Paieillc,  moved  by  the  mournful  air,  and 
irritated  by  the  sight  of  all  these  people  ad- 
miring Dcnyse,  walked  up  and  down  at  the 
other  end  of  the  drawing-room,  affecting  not 
to  hear.  Pierrot,  open-mouthed,  was  gazing 
with  all  his  eyes.  Little  La  Balue,  with  his 
elbow  resting  on  a  console,  had  assumed  a  stiff 
and  ridiculous  pose,  and  had  fixed  his  dull 
eyes  upon  the  young  girl's,  striving  to  render 
them  magnetic  with  such  bold  persistency 
that  Henry  de  Bracieux  was  strongly  tempted 
to  go  up  and  slap  him  in  the  face.  And  even 
the  Abbe  Courteil,  his  hands  clenched,  and 
greatly  moved,  opened  his  eyes  to  the  fullest 
extent  and  breathed  heavily.  Hubert  de 
Bernes  alone  listened  with  polite  attention,  but 
was  comparatively  indifferent. 

All  the  women,  with  the  exception,  perhaps, 
of  Gisele  de  la  Balue,  admired  Bijou  sincerely. 
Madame  de  Neizel  listened  with  sad  eyes  and  a 
kindly  smile.  As  to  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  all 
that  there  was  in  him  of  sensibility  and  ten- 
derness seemed  to  go  out  to  this  pretty,  deli- 
cate creature;  his  eyes,  full  of  love,  dwelt 
equally  upon  Bijou's  charming  face,  her  little 
rosy  fingers  running  over  the  strings,  and  her 
lissome  figure.  And  when  she  had  finished 
singing,  she  came  up  to   him,  without  paying 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  117 

any  attention  to  the  compliments  that  were 
showered  upon  her,  saying,  sweetly  and  coax- 
ingly: 

"  It  hasn't  bored  you  too  much,  has  it  ?" 

For  a  moment  he  did  not  answer.  Emotion 
choked  him.     At  last  he  said: 

"  I  shall  often  ask  you  again  for  that  song! 
Yes.  I  shall  come  to  see  you,  and  you  shall 
sing 'The  Little  Soldier.'  Will  you  be  so 
good  ?" 

A  desire  seized  him  to  hear  Bijou  sing  for 
him,  for.him  alone,  without  sharing  her  voice 
and  her  charm  with  all  these  people  whom  he 
loathed. 

She  replied,  with  a  happy  smile : 

"  You  shall  come  as  often  as  you  please,  and 
I  will  sing  anything  that  you  like." 

Then  she  glided  quickly  over  to  Jean  de 
Blaye,  isolated  at  the  other  end  of  the  draw- 
ing-room, and  said: 

"It  annoys  you  when  I  am  singing,  doesn't 
it?" 

Surprised  at  the  question,  and  surprised  also 
that  she  should  interest  herself  in  him,  he 
said: 

"  No,  indeed!    Why  do  j'ou  ask  ?" 

''  Because  I  just  noticed  you — pulling  your 
mustache  furiously — and  you  looked  as  if  you 
were  annoyed — ah!    You  did  indeed!" 

*'  It  is  only  an  idea  of  yours!" 


118  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Why,  no!  I  never  have  *  ideas,'  as  you  say, 
where  those  I  love  are  concerned.  I  am  a  good 
deal  of  a  clairvoyant  on  the  contrary.  Why 
are  you  frowning  ?" 

"  But  T  am  not  frowning." 

"  Ye.s,  you  are!  And  any  one  would  say  that 
what  I  have  just  said  annoyed  you!" 

"  What  have  you  just  said?" 

"  That  I  was  a  clairvoyant!  And  it  annoys 
you,  because  you  are  afraid  that  I  shall  see 
that  there  is  some  trouble." 

Greatly  worried,  he  asked: 

' '  Some  trouble  ?    What  is  it  ?" 

"What  is  it?  I  don't  know  at  all!  But 
surely  there  is  something  the  matter.  You 
are  no  longer  the  same  since  we  have  been 
at  Bracieux." 

"  Really!"  said  he,  trying  to  turn  it  into  a 
joke.  "Am  I  so  changed?  Well!  the  most 
curious  part  of  it  all  is,  that  I  was  not  in  the 
least  aware  of  it." 

Bijou  shrugged  her  pretty  shoulders. 

"  Don't  try  to  deceive  me,  my  poor  Jean!  I 
know  you  too  well,  don't  you  see?  Yes,  you 
are  so  changed!  You  have  gradually  become 
brusque,  anxious,  and  preoccupied  Comet 
do  you  want  me  to  tell  you  why  ?" 

Seated  at  some  distance  from  them,  Madame 
de  Neizel  was  regarding  them  with  the  same 
sad  air  of  gentle  resignation.     Bijou's  violet 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  119 

eye  glanced  at  her  sideways,  gleaming  beneath 
the  heavily  fringed  lids,  and  she  concluded 
thus: 

"You  love  some  one  who  does  not  love 
you!" 

Jean  de  Blaye  blushed  violently  and  said: 

"You  don't  know  what  you're  talking 
about!" 

"  Then  why  do  you  blush  ?  Oh!  how  proud 
you  are!  You  are  vexed  because  I  have 
guessed  it. " 

After  a  silence,  she  added: 

"  Have  you  told  her  of  it  ?" 

"  Have  I  told  her  what  ?  And  whom  do  you 
mean  ?    But  you  are  crazy,  my  poor  Bijou!" 

"  To  mad " 

She  stopped  short,  her  face  turned  toward 
Madame  de  Neizel,  and  concluded: 

"To  the  one  whom  you  love.  Have  you 
told  her  that  you  loved  her  ?" 

He  murmured  in  a  stunned  sort  of  way: 

"  No!" 

' '  Are  you  afraid  to  ?  But  why  ?  I  am  all 
the  time  hearing  grandmother,  Bertrade,  and 
Paul,  and  Uncle  Alexis  say  that  you  are  one 
of  those  persons  whom  everyone  falls  in  love 
with.  So  she  would  be  sure  to  love  you,  and 
willingly  marry  you." 

She  leaned  over  to  him,  almost  grazing  his 
ear,  without  regard  to  the  effect  produced  by 
this  familiarity,  and  suggested: 


120  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

*  *  Now  what  do  you  say  to  this?  If  you  would 
like  me  to  I  would  gladly  speak  to  her!  And 
I  am  sure  of  her  answer." 

With  a  sudden  movement,  Jean  arose,  and 
seizing  Bijou's  hand,  exclaimed: 

"  What  are  you  saying  ?" 

"I  am  saying  that  she  will  love  you,  if 
she  doesn't  love  you  already," 

' '  But  who  are  you  talking  about  ?  Who  do 
you  mean  ?"  he  murmured  in  alarm. 

With  a  hesitating  and  ingenuous  air,  she 
murmured  so  low  that  he  could  hardly  hear 
the  beginning  of  the  sentence: 

"I  am  speaking  of  Bijou,"  cried  Pierrot, 
separating  them  rudely;  "  grandmother  sends 
you  word  that  you  have  forgotten  the  tea!" 

And  observing  their  excited  faces,  he  asked: 

"  Upon  my  word,  you're  both  of  you  as  red 
as  beets!  To  be  sure,  it's  perfectly  broiling  in 
here!" 

And  as  Bijou  ran  off,  he  continued: 

"They  thought  over  there  that  you  were 
quarreling," 

For  the  sake  of  saying  something,  Jean  re- 
plied: 

"Ah!    Did  they,  really  ?" 

"Yes!  particularly  grandmother,  who  was 
sure  of  it.  That's  the  reason  she  sent  me  to 
get  Bijou  to  make  the  tea.  Do  you  mean  to 
say  that  nothing  is  bothering  Bijou  ?" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  121 

"And  what  do  you  suppose  she  could  have 
to  bother  her,  my  dear  fellow  ?"  And  he 
added,  smilingly: 

"Who  do  j'ou  think  would  ever  dare  to 
bother  her  ?  The  position  in  this  house  would 
not  be  a  very  pleasant  one  for  any  such  per- 
son!" 

The  boy  replied  with  great  animation: 

"  Because  she  is  so  lovely!  And  so  kind.  I 
adore  her!  And  so  does  Paul!  And  so  does 
Henry!  And  so  does  Monsieur  Giraud!  And 
so  do  Bertrade's  boys.  And  so  does  the  abbe. 
And  so  does  everybody.  Down  to  little  La 
Balue,  who  devours  her  with  his  eyes.  He 
who  never  notices  anybody.  Yes.  He  was 
telling  her,  I  don't  know  what,  in  a  corner, 
after  dinner,  and  then,  while  she  was  singing  ? 
Did  you  see  what  eyes  he  was  making  at  her  ? 
No,  but  did  you  see  them  ?" 

"Oh,  hush  up,  now!"  said  Jean,  irritated; 
"  If  you  only  knew  how  tiresome  you  were,  my 
poor  Pierrot!" 

As  Bijou  was  re-entering  the  drawing-room, 
Henry  de  Bracieux  stopped  her  on  the  way. 

"Tell  me,  now,"  said  he  with  vexation, 
"  what  La  Balue  was  saying  to  you  that  was 
so  interesting,  a  little  while  ago  ?" 

"  Whereabouts?" 

"  Here!    After  dinner!" 

"  Here,"  repeated  Bijou,  who  seemed  to  be 
thinking. 


122  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"After    dinner?    Come!    now.     You  were 
just  the  person  he  was  talking  to  me  about." 
"About  me  ?" 

"Yes,  about  you!  He  thinks  you  are  very, 
very  handsome!  But  he  thinks  you  don't  set 
a  proper  value  on  your  looks." 

"  Have  you  finished  making  fun  of  me  ?" 
' '  But  I  assure  you  I  am  not  making  fun  of 
you.  He  even  advised  me  to  tell  you  to  wear, 
instead  of  those  frightfully  high  collars — this 
is  what  he  said,  you  understand — V.in  Dyck 
collars,  which  would  not  coneeil  ,  our  neck. 
Yes.  For  it  appears  that  you  ha  j  a  very  fine 
neck,  and  bones,  and  teeth.  I  siiould  like  you 
to  hear  him  repeat  the  list  of  your  attrac- 
tions." 

"My  attractions,  mine ?" 
"Yes.  You  fancied,  perhaps,  that  it  was 
about  mine  that  h^  as  talking!  Not  at  all! 
He  told  me,  besid^",'  that  he  was  going  to  re- 
count all  this  ill  verse!  Not  the  Van  Dyck 
collars,  but  the  rest." 

"  He  is  a  fool,  I  '•t  creature!" 
"Oh!  dear  me,   ao!     He  is  only  insignifi- 
cant!" 

"  You  are  so  good!    You  never  run  anybody 
down.     Attention!    the    la  Balue    clan    are 
beating  a  retreat."    And  in  an  undertone  he 
joyously  exclaimed: 
"Hip!    Hip!    Hurrahl" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  123 

Monsieur  de  la  Balue,  who  was  coming  back 
from  tlie  vestibule,  carrying  a  lot  of  cloaks, 
regarded  him  with  astonishment.  And  now 
a  little  family  scene  took  jilace  in  the  hall. 

The  good  man  wished  to  absolutely  compel 
his  wife  and  his  daughter  to  envelop  their 
heads  in  common-looking  knitted  worsted 
shawls,  to  avoid  taking  cold;  they  persisted  in 
not  putting  them  on,  and  in  the  end  he  was 
compelled  to  yield.  Bijou,  when  she  bade 
Madame?  de  Neizel  good-by,  gave  her  her  lit- 
tle hand,  ■^;nd  gazed  so  directly  into  her  eyes, 
with  such  candid  and  curious  expression, 
that  the  young  woman  turned  away,  annoyed 
by  the  persistency  of  this  singular  glance. 

It  seemed  to  her  that  this  child  had  dis- 
covered her  secret,  and  it  caused  her  infinite 
pain. 

But  Bijou's  charm  was  so  great,  her  power 
of  attraction  so  strong,  t.  at  she  experienced 
only  a  heartfelt  affection  ior  the  delightful 
little  creature,  who  was  unconsciously  robbing 
her  of  her  happiness. 

"  0«t/,"  said  Den yse  jc  jusly,  coming  back 
into  the  drawing-room,  where  there  was  no 
one  now  left  but  Monsieur  de  Clagny  and  the 
family.  ' '  Do  you  know  that  it  is  half -past 
twelve  ?" 

"  They  were  all  of  them  regular  fixtures.  I 
thought  that  they  were  never  going  to  leave." 


124  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"The  La  Balue  family  is  not  a  handsome 
one,"  said  the  abbe. 

"But  they  are  not  so  very  ugly,"  objected 
the  young  gii'l.  "When  you're  once  used  to 
them,  you  don't  mind." 

"Little  La  Balue  is  horrible,"  said  Madame 
de  Bracieux,  "  and  then  there  is  something  cold 
and  clammy  about  him ;  when  you  shake  hands 
with  ^ -'m,  it  is  like  touching  an  eel." 

"And  the  girl,  too,"  said  Pierrot,"ls  "awful! 
She  has  little  eyes  like  a  pig.  And  Louis  has 
little  eyes,  too. " 

"They  are  very  nice,  all  the  same,"  said 
Bijou  con<  latingly;  while  Madame  de  Bracieux 
added: 

"  And  they  are  of  good  birth.  They  are  de- 
scended from  La  Balue,  from  the  cardinal, 
from  the  true " 

"  Mon  Dieu,''^  said  Bijou  gently,  "it  would 
have  been  better  for  Gis^le  not  to  have  de- 
scended from  the  '  iron  cage. '  And  to  have 
larger  eyes — but  as  it  can't  be  helped " 

Monsieur  de  Clagny  begun  to  laugh,  and, 
looking  around  for  his  hat  that  was  hidden  in 
a  corner,  he  remarked: 

"  It  requires  some  courage  to  leave  a  draw- 
ing-room like  this — for  one  does  not  know  how 
he  will  be  torn  to  pieces." 

* '  Don't  be  afraid, "  Bijou  assured  him.  "  We 
won't  tear  you  to  pieces,  although  you  would 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  125 

be  able  to  stand  the  process,  but  I  promise  you 
that  you  shall  be  spared.  Will  you  believe 
me?" 

And  while  affectionately  pressing  the  little 
hands  stretched  out  to  him,  the  count  re- 
plied: 

"  I  will  believe  you." 


136  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 


VIII. 

"Are  you  going  to  ride  this  morning,  Bijou  ?" 
cried  Pierrot,  leaning  out  of  the  window. 

Denyse,  who  was  crossing  the  court,  pointed 
to  her  riding  skirt,  and  said: 

"Do  you  suppose  that  I  would  amuse  my- 
self by  walking  about  in  a  cloth  skirt  on  such 
a  hot  day,  if  I  were  not  going  to  ride  ?" 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?" 

"Why?" 

"  So  that  we  can  follow  you,  M.  Giraud  and 
I,  at  eleven  o'clock." 

The  professor's  head  now  appeared  behind 
Pierrot,  while  Bijou  answered: 

' '  I  am  going  to  the  Borderettes  to  give  a 
message  to  Lavenue." 

Then  perceiying  Giraud,  she  said  sweetly: 

"  Good-morning!" — then — "mt  revoirP^ 

Patatras  was  waiting  in  the  shade.  The  old 
coachman,  who  always  accompanied  Bijou, 
mounted  her,  then  got  up  on  his  horse,  pre- 
paring to  follow.  On  seeing  him,  Pierrot 
called  out  again: 

"  How  does  it  happen  that  not  one  of  your 
cousins  are  riding  with  you  ?" 

"  I  didn't  tell  them  that  I  was  going  out." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  127 

"  Ah!"  said  he,  with  regret,  "  if  I  were  only 
free!     I'd  go  with  you  in  a  minute." 

She  turned  around  in  her  saddle  with  a  sup- 
ple movement,  and  replied,  laughing: 

"  I  shall  never  tell  you  again." 

The  flies  were  annoying  Patatras,  so  as  soon 
as  Bijou  had  passed  the  gates  she  started  him 
off  into  a  galop,  and  cantered  away  in  the 
burning  heat,  facing  the  sun,  which  shone 
with  ardor  on  her  pretty  face,  but  failed  to 
turn  it  red.  She  only  paused  when  she  had 
reached  the  precipitous  path,  covered  with 
rolling  stones,  that  led  to  the  Bcderettes. 
At  the  foot  of  the  hill,  in  the  little  valley, 
fresh  and  verdant,  despite  the  drought,  arose 
the  farmhouse  of  pure  white,  crowned  with 
bricks,  looking  like  a  bi'and  new  toy.  When 
she  had  reached  the  foot  of  this  steep  descent. 
Bijou  drew  a  small  mirror  from  her  pocket, 
and  arranged  her  veil,  and  the  scattered  locks 
of  hair  that  were  flying  in  wild  confusion 
about  her  ears  and  neck.  Then  she  plucked 
from  the  hedge  a  bunch  of  mulberry  blooms 
and  fastened  them  in  her  waist,  arranged  the 
lace-trimmed  handkerchief  peeping  out  of  the 
little  side-pocket,  and,  resuming  her  canter, 
rode  up  to  the  door  of  the  farmhouse.  A 
harsh  voice  called  out : 

"  Are  you  there,  Mait  Lavenue?" 

And  a  small  man-servant  came  out  of  the 
house,  saying: 


128  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Doesn't  seem  to  hear  me.     I  go  look." 

A  moment  after  a  tall  man  of  thirty- five 
appeared,  thin,  blond,  with  a  slight  stoop,  a 
perfect  type  of  a  Norman  peasant;  he  was 
panting,  perspiring,  and  so  red  in  the  face 
that  he  positively  seemed  purple. 

"  Oh,"  said  he,  trying  to  get  back  his  breath, 
"it  is  you.  Mademoiselle  Denyse.  It  is  you, 
then." 

"Why,  yes.  Monsieur  Lavenue,"  said  she 
smilingly,  "it  is  I." 

Advancing,  with  outstretched  hand,  he 
asked :     • 

"Ain't  you  going  to  get  down  ?" 

"No,  thc-^' .'is.  I  only  came  to  give  you  a 
message  from  grandmother.  It  is  for  the  con- 
firmation breakfast  on  next  Monday,  but  you 
ought  to  know  that,  as  you  are  mayor." 

' '  Yes,  I  know. " 

"  Of  course,  grandmother  would  like  to  have, 
on  that  day,  some  very  fine  peaches,  some 
very  fine  pears,  in  fact  a  quantity  of  the  fine 
things  that  grow  in  the  Borderettes  garden." 

"They  shall  all  be  sent.  Mademoiselle 
Denyse.  Madame  la  Marquise  can  rest  easy. 
And  they  shall  be  well  chosen. " 

Then,  seeing  that  the  young  girl  was  turn- 
ing her  horse,  he  said,  gazing  at  her  in  speech- 
less admiration: 

' '  You're  not  going  away  already  ?    Won't 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  129 

you  refresh  yourself  with  a  little  drop  ?  With 
a  bowl  of  milk  ?  For  that's  what  you  like  so 
much,  good  milk." 

And  he  added  persuasively,  while  taking 
hold  of  Patatras'  bridle: 

"A  little  drop  would  do  the  horse  good, 
too.     He's  so  hot." 

The  language  of  "  Mait "  Lavenue  always 
amused  Bijou.  For  this  tall  brute  of  a  Nor- 
man, who  had  emigrated  ten  years  before  to 
Lorraine,  had  lost  nothing  of  his  primitive 
accent. 

It  was  Madame  de  Bracieux,  who,  discon- 
tented with  the  farmers  of  Lorraine,  had  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  this  import,  •on.  Never 
had  Charlemagne  Lavenue  fraternized  with 
the  people  of  the  country.  He  was  feared  and 
admired  by  these  simple,  ignorant  men,  who 
saw  him  grow  rich  under  the  same  conditions 
in  which  others  had  been  ruined.  He  had 
gradually  transformed  "  The  Br^derettes  "  into 
a  little  Normandy,  by  getting  "  people  from 
home,"  to  settle  there;  and  so  strong  was  his 
position  that  he,  the  intruder,  had  succeeded 
in  having  himself  elected  mayor  of  Bracieux, 
jumping  quite  over  the  heads  of  former  digni- 
taries. Seeing  that  Bijou  did  not  reply,  he 
took  her  by  the  waist  and  placed  her  on  the 
ground,  saying: 

"You  will.     Won't  vou?" 


130  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Then  giving  the  horse  to  the  coachman  to 
hold,  he  showed  her  the  door,  stepping  aside 
so  that  Bijou  could  pass,  when  she  suddenly 
exclaimed,  in  pleasf  J  tones: 

"Your  house  i*"  so  nice,  Monsieur  La  venue. 
Did  I  ever  se'-  this  room  before  ?  No  I  I 
don't  think  so.  ' 

"  You  have  seen  it,  mademoiselle — only —it's 
because  it's  just  been  whitewashed.  And, 
you  know,  'that  changes  things  1" 

Smilingly  she  resumed: 

"By  the  time  you  are  married  it  will  be 
quite  beautiful." 

"  Mait"  Lavenue,  who  was  gazing  greedily  at 
Bijou,  raised  his  bushy  head,  shook  it,  and 
said,  with  some  hesitation: 

"  I  can't  decide  to  give  the  farm  a  mistress, 
because  I  can't  find  one  to  my  mind " 

And  after  a  moment's  silence  he  concluded 
with : 

"Among  those  whom  I  could  have." 

"  But  why  not  ?  Any  one  of  the  young  girls 
in  Bracieux,  and  in  Combes,  and  in  any  of  the 
villages  near  Borderettes,  would  marry  Mon- 
sieur Lavenue!  And  there  are  some  very 
pretty  ones  among  them  too." 

"  I  don't  find 'em  so!"  he  replied,  twisting 
around  the  enormous  cap  that  he  never  left  oflf 
wearing,  no  matter  what  was  the  season. 

"  You  are  hard  to  please!  Don't  you  think 
Catherine  Labour  is  pretty?" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  131 

"No,  Mademoiselle  Denyse." 

"Nor  Josephine  Lacaille?" 

"No,  Mademoisclli'  Deuyse." 

"Nor  Louise  Pature?"; 

"No,  mad'moiselle." 

She  began  to  laugh!  ., 

"Then,  is  there  no  woman  who  can  please 
you  ?" 

"  Yes.     Why,  there  is — there's  one." 

"  Who  is  it?"  she  asked,  her  beautiful,  in- 
nocent eyes  gazing  fixedly  at  the  peasant. 

Lavenue  grew  still  redder,  and,  stooping 
down  with  an  awkward  movement  to  pick  up 
his  cap,  which  he  had  just  dropped,  he  mur- 
mured: ( 

"  I  can't  tell  you.  She  isn't  any  one  whom 
I  could  have  for  a  wife!" 

Bijou  did  not  hear  his  answer.  With  figure 
and  head  thrown  back,  she  was  slowly  drink- 
ing a  second  bowl  of  milk. 

And  the  farmer,  who  was  rising  from  his 
stooping  posture,  stood  motionless  for  one  mo- 
ment, his  eyes  wide  open,  contemplating  this 
fragile  creature  with  timid  and  awe-struck 
admiration.  And  as  Bijou,  who  had  finished 
drinking,  examined  him  smilingly,  he  said, 
while  drying  his  forehead,  which  was  stream- 
ing with  perspiration: 

'■'■  Nom  de  nomf  how  hot  it  is!" 

"  Thank   you,    Monsieur    Lavenue,"    said 


132  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Denyse,  who  had  arisen.  "The  milk  is  de- 
licious." 

*'  And  so,  are  you  going  right  off  like  that, 
already  ?"  he  asked,  with  a  mournful  look. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  already?'  Why  I 
must  have  been  here  for  at  least  a  quarter  of 
an  hour!" 

"  It  hasn't  seemed  long,  this  quarter  of  an 
hour!"  he  murmured: 

And  in  a  very  low  tone  he  added: 

"I  thank  you  very  much,  Mademoiselle 
Denyse,  for  the  honor  that  you  have  done  me. 
I  shall  not  forget  it — you  may  be  very  sure!" 

Bijou,  in  getting  up,  had  dropped  the  little 
bouquet  from  her  waist;  and  as  she  was  look- 
ing toward  the  door  to  see  if  the  horses  were 
there,  the  tall  peasant  got  down  on  his  knees, 
and,  stretching  out  his  brawny  arm,  snatched 
the  flowers,  and  concealed  them  quickly  in  the 
opening  of  his  blouse. 

The  servant  was  about  to  get  down  in  order 
to  mount  Denyse.  She  motioned  to  him  not 
to  move. 

"  Monsieur  Lavenue  can  quite  well  put  me 
up  on  my  horse,"  said  she;  "he  is  very 
strong." 

She  was  just  about  to  put  out  her  foot,  to 
place  it  in  the  farmer's  hand,  but  he  did  not 
give  her  the  time.  Seizing  her  waist  with 
both  hands,  he  placed  her  in  the  middle  of  the 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  133 

saddle.  Overcome  with  surprise,  she  ex- 
claimed: 

"Ah!  indeed!  I  was  right  when  I  said 
you  were  strong!  How  were  you  ever  able  to 
lift  me  up  like  that,  at  arm's  length,  when  the 
horse  is  so  tall  ?" 

Then,  as  he  stood  for  a  moment  without 
speaking,  breathing  hard,  she  concluded: 

"There!  So,  you  see!  I  was  too  heavy! 
You  are  quite  out  of  breath." 

Without  leaving  him  the  time  to  reply,  she 
rode  off,  saying: 

"J.M  revoir!    And  thank  you  again." 

As  she  was  going  out  of  the  court  she 
turned  around  and  called  out  to  the  farmer, 
who  had  remained  nailed  to  the  same  spot, 
immovable,  his  arms  hanging: 

"Don't  forget  grandmother's  peaches  and 
pears,  Monsieur  Lavenue." 

Bijou  looked  at  her  watch;  it  was  five  min- 
utes past  eleven.  She  had  just  time  to  get 
home  without  hurrying.  She  had  to  give 
Monsieur  Giraud  and  Pierrot  the  time  to  come 
and  meet  her,  and  the  recess  did  not  begin  be- 
fore eleven.  "While  going  through  the  village 
she  picked  from  a  large  vine  of  clematis, 
which  was  hanging  over  the  wall  of  a  ceme- 
tery, a  bouquet  to  replace  the  one  she  had 
lost.  Then  when  she  again  found  herself  in 
the  country  she  once  more  took,  out  her  little 


134  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

glass  and  lightly  flufifed  up  her  hair,  which  no 
longer  curled,  being  rendered  liuij)  by  the 
heat.  At  half -past  eleven,  not  seeing  those 
whom  she  was  expecting  arrive,  she  grew  a 
little  impatient,  and  forced  Patratas  into  a 
gallop;  but  as  he  was  exhausted  he  suddenly 
came  to  a  standstill,  wishing  at  all  hazards  to 
graze  on  the  hedges.  All  at  once  her  pretty, 
joyous  face  assumed  a  serious,  ahnost  sad,  ex- 
pression. She  was  in  a  little  meadow  on  the 
borders  of  a  wood,  when  at  this  moment  a 
voice  cried  out: 

"  Hi!  Bijou,  is  this  the  way  you're  burning 
us  up  ?" 

She  stopped  short,  with  a  surprised  look  and 
turned  back.  Pierrot  and  Monsieur  Giraud, 
who  had  been  stretched  out  in  the  shade,  got 
up  at  once,  leaving  the  impression  of  their 
forms  in  the  trampled  grass. 

"What!  is  it  you  already  ?"  said  she.  "I 
didn't  think  that  I  should  meet  you  at  such  a 
distance  from  home.  At  what  time  did  you 
leave  ?" 

"A  little  before  the  time  was  up,"  replied 
Pierrot;  and  he  added  mischievously,  wiih  a 
side  glance  at  his  professor:  "  Monsieur  Giraud 
was  a  perfect  love.  He  left  off  a  little  earlier, 
without  my  being  obliged  to  urge  him  a  great 
deal.  And  now,  if  we  want  to  get  back  to  Bra- 
cieux  by  one  o'clock  we'll  have  to  make  tracks." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  135 

While  they  were  walking  beside  Bijou  she 
asked,  addressing  Giraud: 

'' Have  you  recovered   since  last  evening?" 

"  Recovered,  mademoiselle!"  said  the  young 
professor,  "  why  recovered  ?" 

"Because  you  couldn't  have  heen  much 
amused.  Monsieur  de  Tourville  and  Monsieur 
de  Juzencourt  both  in  succession  blockaded 
you  in  corners  to  relate  to  you,  one  of  them, 
how  Charles  de  Tourville  had  embarked  with 
William  the  Conqueror  in  1066;  and  the  other, 
how  a  Juzencourt  in  1477  had  fought  against 
Charles  the  Bold  under  the  walls  of  Nancy. 
Isn't  it  true  ?" 

"Quite  true.  And  Monsieur  de  Juzencourt 
added  that  there  was  nothing  but  blue  blood 
in  his  family.  I  didn't  quite  understand 
why  he  told  me  that." 

"  In  order  to  prove  to  you  that,  traced  clear- 
ly, to  be  sure  only  from  1477,  but  without  the 
slightest  mesalliance^  the  Juzencourts  are  more 
distinguished  than  the  Tourvilles." 

"Ah!" 

"Yes.  Monsieur  de  Tourville  has  married 
a.young  lady  who  is  all  very  well,  but  whose 
father  is  in  the  Bourse,  and  whose  name  is 
Chaillot.  So  you  see  that,  on  the  Tourville 
side,  if  the  blood  is  older,  it  is  less  pure.  You 
kept  your  countenance  so  well,  while  listening 
to  all  that  stuff,  that  I  should  certainly  have 
laughed  if  you  hadn't  looked  so  unhappy." 


136  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"It  wasn't  due  to  the  dullness  caused  by 
stories  of  the  Tourvilles  and  Juzencourts  that 
gave  him  that  look,"  observed  Pierrot.  "  For 
some  time  past  he  is  always  like  that;  even 
when  he  is  with  me;  and  I  can  tell  you,  too, 
that  I  don't  overwhelm  him  with  tales  of 
Charles  the  Bold  or  of  William  the  Con- 
queror." 

"  I  am  quite  sure  of  it,"  said  Bijou,  laugh- 
ing. 

'■'■  Mon  Dieu!  there  wouldn't  be  any  trouble 
about  it;  I  could  do  it  very  well;  but  zutP'' 

"  Zut  again,"  said  the  young  tutor,  annoyed 
and  in  a  tone  of  reproach.  "  You  know  that 
Monsieur  de  Jonzac  detests  that  way  of  speak- 
ing; he  would  like  you  to  be  more  of  a  purist, 
more  choice  in  your  conversation." 

"Nonsense!  If  papa  were  to  talk  with  my 
friends  he  would  hear  a  good  many  more  such 
expressions,  and  he'd  get  used  to  them  very 
soon;  it's  always  so.  It's  a  question  of  influ- 
ence." 

"I  can't  very  well  imagine  Uncle  Alexis 
being  influenced  by  the  conversation  of  your 
companions,"  said  Bijou. 

While  speaking  she  stopped  suddenly,  point- 
ing to  something  in  the  woods. 

"Oh,  what  beautiful  fruit!  Aren't  they 
pretty — those  bunches  ?" 

"Would  you  like  to  have  some  of  them?" 
proposed  Pierrot. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  137 

"  I  should  indeed;  they  are  so  fine." 

Pierrot  plunged  into  the  underbrush;  they 
could  hear  the  cracking  of  the  branches  that 
he  demolished  on  the  way;  and  soon  the  red 
top  of  the  tree  shook  and  bent  over,  lowering 
and  rising  in  sudden  shocks. 

Bijou,  with  her  head  inclined  and  a  vague 
look  in  her  eyes,  seemed  to  be  dreaming,  ob- 
livious of  what  was  passing  around  her. 

Pierrot's  voice  crying,  "Must  I  pick  very 
many  ?"  made  her  tremble. 

Giraud,  who  was  gently  patting  Patatras' 
shoulder,  asked  timidly: 

"Have  you  anything  to  trouble  you,  made- 
moiselle ?" 

"I?    Why,  no.     Why  do  you  ask  ?" 

"  Because  you  don't  seem  like  yourself .  You 
appear  somewhat  sad. " 

"Sad?    Do  I?" 

"Yes.  Just  now,  when  you  were  passing 
by  us  without  seeing  us,  you  appeared  sad, 
very  sad,  and  now  again." 

"  A  little  while  ago  it  is  quite  possible.  Yes, 
I  was  not  gay  then.  But  now  there  is  no 
reason  why  I  shouldn't  be.  On  the  contrary,  I 
am  so  happy  here  in  these  velvety  fields,  under 
this  beautiful  sun,  that  I  love  so  dearly!  She 
concluded  without  noticing  the  young  man  and 
speaking  as  in  a  dream.  "Yes.  I  am  so 
happy!  I  should  like  to  remain  like  this  for. 
ever,  forever." 


I3g  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

She  pressed  to  her  lips  the  little  bouquet  of 
clematis  with  which  she  had  beea  toying  for 
the  last  minute  or  two,  then  rejilaced  it  in  her 
waist,  witliout  noticing  the  hand  that  Giraud 
extended  passionately  toward  the  poor  little 
flowers  that  had  already  begun  to  droop. 
Pierrot  came  out  of  the  thicket,  bearing  an 
enormous  bunch  of  fruit.  Bijou,  who  had  re- 
sumed her  smiling  mien,  thanked  him,  saying: 

"You  are  so  nice,  my  dear  Pierrot  I  and  it's 
awfully  good  of  you!  particularly,  as  you'll 
have  the  trouble  of  carrying  them  for  another 
mile." 

"  Pshaw!  I'd  do  a  good  deal  more  than  that, 
to  give  you  any  pleasure!" 

"  You  are  a  good  Pierrot!" 

"  'Tisn't  because  I'm  good!" 

He  went  up  close  to  her,  rubbing  against 
the  horse,  and  concluded  in  a  very  low  tone 
with: 

"  It's  because  I  love  you!" 

Bijou  did  not  reply. 

At  the  end  of  a  moment,  Pierrot  resumed: 

"  I  tell  you  what,  you  sang  well  last  night! 
— didn't  she.  Monsieur  Giraud  ?" 

"Wonderfully  well,"  said  the  professor; 
"and  you  have  such,  a  pretty  voice— so  pure, 
so  fresh!  Ah!  I  can  understand  now  what  I 
didn't  understand  yesterday." 

"  And  pray,  what  is  that  ?" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  139 

•'The  infinite  power  of  the  voice!  Yes,  be- 
fore hearing  you  I  was  ignorant  of  what  I  now 
know  very  well.  You  will  sing  again,  will  you 
not,  mademoiselle  ?  When  I  think  that  for  the 
three  weeks  I  have  been  in  the  chateau  I  have 
never  before  had  the  happiness  of " 

"I  will  gladly  give  you  this  'happiness' 
whenever  you  please." 

She  was  jesting  now.  The  little  creature  of 
the  dream,  a  while  ago,  had  again  become— 
Bijou.  As  they  neared  the  castle  she  shaded 
her  eyes  with  her  hand  and  said : 

"  What's  going  on  there?  the  front  door  is 
crowded  with  people." 

Pierrot  answered,  with  annoyance: 

'^Farbleu!  It's  all  of  them  watching  for 
you.  There's  Paul.  There's  Henry.  And 
Monsieur  le  Abbe.  And  Uncle  Alexis,  and 
Bertrade.  Let  me  see.  Who  are  those  ?  You 
are  right.  There  are  some  other  people.  Ah! 
it  is  father  Dubuisson,  and  Jeanne,  and  there's 
another  man  besides  whom  I  don't  know.  A 
man  all  in  black — beu  !  he  must  suffer  a  good 
deal  from  cold  to  come  out  to  the  country  in  a 
black  suit  on  such  a  hot  day." 

"  Perhaps  it's  Monsieur  Spiegel,"  said  Bijou, 
*' Jeanne's j^ance.     He  was  to  come  to  us." 

' '  Yes,  it  must  be.  Say  now.  Doesn't  he  look 
solemn  ?    Jeanne's^awce,  and  so  does  she  too." 

Bijou  had  turned  around  to  see  what  had 


140  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

become  of  Giraud,  who  was  not  saying  any- 
thing. He  was  following  the  young  girl, 
adoring  her  like  an  idol,  at  this  moment,  when 
Pierrot  was  very  much  occupied  in  looking  in 
the  direction  of  the  castle;  the  little  bouquet 
of  clematis  fell  from  Bijou's  waist  and  rolled 
at  the  professor's  feet.  He  picked  it  up  quick- 
ly, and  slipped  it  into  his  pocketbook,  after 
having  kissed  it  with  a  species  of  passionate 
devotion,  and  the  old  coachman,  who  was 
standing  behind  him,  silent  and  correct,  sud- 
denly began  to  laugh. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  141 


IX. 

Monsieur  Dubuisson,  whom  the  students 
were  in  the  habit  of  calling  "Father  Dubuis- 
son," was  the  principal  of  the  academy.  He 
had  brought  his  daughter  to  Bracieux,  where 
she  was  to  pass  a  week  with  Bijou.  Jeanne's 
fiance,  a  young  professor,  recently  appointed 
one  of  the  faculty  of  Pont-sur- Loire,  had  ac- 
companied them. 

"  How  warm  you  must  be,  my  Bijou,"  cried 
the  marchioness,  appearing  at  a  window. 

"  Why,  no,  grandmother,"  replied  Denyse, 
leaning  on  Monsieur  de  Rueille's  arm,  as  she 
got  down  off  the  horse;  "  Monsieur  Giraud 
and  Pierrot  are  the  ones  who  ought  to  be  warm. 
As  to  me,  I'm  all  right." 

She  gave  Jeanne  a  hearty  kiss,  said  good- 
morning  to  Monsieur  Dubuisson,  and  with  a 
hesitating  air  turned  to  the  professor,  who  was 
gazing  at  her  in  open-mouthed  admiration. 

"  Bijou,  this  is  Monsieur  Spiegel,"  said 
Mademoiselle  Dubuisson. 

With  a  pretty  gesture,  that  was  very  grace- 
ful and  taking,  Bijou  gave  her  soft  little  hand 
to  the  young  man,  saying: 


14^  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  "We  are  old  friends  already." 

Then  leaning  over,  she  murmured  in  Jeanne's 
ear: 

"  lie  is  charming,  do  you  know,  quite  charm- 
ing !" 

Did  Monsieur  Spiegel  hear  these  words  of 
amiable  appreciation,  or  was  it  by  chance  that 
he  grew  intensely  red  at  that  moment  ? 

"Go  quick  and  change  your  dress.  Bijou," 
commanded  the  marchioness, 

"But,  grandmother,  I  am  not  warm — really 
and  truly." 

"  Come  here,  so  that  I  can  see." 

Bijou  went  obediently  and  sat  down  beside 
Madame  de  Bracieux;  then  leaning  over,  she 
stretched  out  her  neck,  as  she  was  now  quite 
accustomed  to  these  hygienic  demonstrations. 

"Well,  grandmother,"  said  she,  when  her 
grandmother  had  withdrawn  her  hand  that  she 
had  introduced  between  the  collar  of  the  shirt 
^and  the  skin,  ' '  well,  didn't  I  tell  you " 

"  It's  perfectly  true,"  grumbled  Madame  de 
Bracieux.  "  She  isn't  warm.  It  is  incredible. 
Then  you  may  stay  as  you  are  if  you  wish  to." 

She  made  her  granddaughter  turn  around 
in  front  of  her,  and,  evidently  pleased  with 
the  effect,  remarked: 

"Besides,  you  will  do  very  well.  These 
white  jj/gwe  habits  are  extremely  becoming." 

"They  are  becoming  to  Bijou,"  said  Ber- 


"  He  picked  it  u/<  qiiickly  and  slipped  it  into 
Ji  is  pocketbook. ' ' 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  143 

trade,  "because  everything  is  becoming  with 
her  complexion;  but  these  little  English  habits 
are  fearfully  trying  to  the  majority  of  women." 

The  Abbe  Courteil  regarded  the  black  skirt, 
the  white  jacket,  and  Bijou  herself,  and  said 
with  conviction: 

"  In  any  case,  this  combination  of  black  and 
white  is  most  charming.  Mademoiselle  Denyse 
looks  like  a  magnified  swallow." 

"Eh  !  eh  !"  said  the  marchioness,  regarding 
the  abbe  with  a  benevolent  look,  "that's  a 
vei'y  pretty  comparison." 

While  every  one  was  thus  taken  up  with 
Bijou,  she,  very  amiably,  without  paying  any 
attention  to  what  they  were  saying  about  her, 
was  talking  with  Monsieur  Spiegel,  who  felt 
rather  alone  among  so  many  strangers. 

He  was  a  young  man,  with  a  serious  and 
gentle  expression,  who  might  have  appeared 
pedantic  had  not  the  brightness  of  his  eyes 
neutralized  the  severity  of  his  mouth  and  the 
austerity  of  his  demeanor.  He  was  quite  tall  and 
slender,  dressed  in  well-cut  clothes  of  somber 
hue,  and  in  general  appearance  gave  somewhat 
the  impression  of  a  distinguished  young  cler- 
gyman. Fascinated  and  dazzled  by  Bijou's 
grace  and  beauty,  he  gazed  upon  her  with  eyes 
full  of  ecstasy  and  wonder,  while  she  examined 
him,  when  unobserved,  sui'prised  to  find 
Jeanne's  fiance  so  presentable.     The  breakfast 


14:4  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

appeared  long.  All  of  the  marchioness'  guests 
were  observing  each  other,  some  preoccupied 
and  silent,  othei's  more  loquacious,  but  singu- 
larly preoccupied  as  well. 

Madame  de  Braeieux,  without  in  the  least 
understanding  the  cause,  was  conscious  of  a 
certain  change  in  the  situation,  of  a  sort  of 
transformation  that  had  taken  place  during 
the  last  few  days.  She  no  longer  recognized 
the  little  world  that  she  had  hitherto  been  ac- 
customed to  guide  so  readily  according  to  her 
will.  Monsieur  Spiegel  and  Bijou,  who  were 
sitting  next  to  each  other,  were  the  only  ones 
who  conversed  with  the  animation  of  those  who 
talk,  not  only  because  they  wish  to  say  some- 
thing, but  because  they  have  something  to  say. 
Jeanne  Dubuisson,  who  was  seated  at  Mon- 
sieur Spiegel's  right  hand,  turned  toward  him 
several  times  with  a  little  flash  in  her  kind  blue 
eye.  She  reflected  with  chagrin  that  it  was 
quite  evident  that  her  fiance  took  more  pleas- 
ure in  looking  at  Bijou  than  he  had  ever  taken 
in  regarding  her.  And  a  feeling  of  sadness 
came  over  her  when  she  thought  of  how  he  had 
never  gazed  at  her  with  eyes  like  those  which 
were  now  fixed  upon  Bijou. 

Jeanne,  who  was  nineteen,  appeared  much 
older  than  Bijou,  although  they  were  some- 
what of  the  same  style.  Her  hair,  which  like 
Bijou's  was  blond,  was,  however,  less  cendre, 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  145 

less  bright,  but  thicker;  her  eyes  were  of  a  less 
rare  tint  of  blue;  her  teeth  were  as  white  but 
less  regular,  her  complexiou  less  brilliant,  and 
her  bones  larger.  Bijou,  who  was  quite  short, 
wore  too  high  heels,  in  order  to  increase  her 
height,  while  Jeanne,  who  was  rather  tall, 
always  wore  very  low  flat  English  heels. 
While  one  produced  a  certain  dazzling  and 
brilliant  impression,  the  other  passed  almost 
unperceived,  her  beauty  derived  rather  from 
the  great  charm  of  her  exquisite  kindness  of 
heart. 

After  breakfast  Bijou  led  Jeanne  into  the 
park.  She  had  hardly  seen  her  since  her 
marriage  had  been  arranged. 

"  Why,"  asked  she,  "  did  you  tell  me  in 
such  a  mild  way  that  M.  Spiegel  was  nice  ?" 

"Why,"  said  Mademoiselle  Dubuisson, 
"  because  I  think  he  is;  don't  you  ?" 

' '  Don't  pretend  to  be  so  stupid.  You  know 
perfectly  well  that  he  is  a  great  deal  more 
than  'nice'." 

"  But " 

"  Yes,  indeed.  From  the  description  I  re- 
ceived of  him  from  you  I  expected  to  see  an 
ordinary  little  man,  of  a  somewhat  staid  ap- 
pearance, and  instead  you  have  introduced  a 
man  who  is  really  charming.  One  usually  lets 
one  know  beforehand — one  doesn't  spring  such 
surprises  upon  one's  friends,"   and  without 


146  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP, 

leaving  Jeanno  the  time  to  answer,  she  asked, 
"  When  did  you  meet  him  V 

"  This  spring,  at  Easter,  when  we  went  to 
Bordeaux  to  visit  my  aunt." 

"And  was  it  arranged  all  at  once  ?" 

"  No,  but  I  liked  him  from  the  first." 

"  That's  just  like  you — you're  such  a  soft- 
hearted creature." 

"  And  I  very  soon  saw  that  he  greatly  en- 
joyed being  with  me." 

"And  then?" 

"And  then  we  pai'ted,  and  my  heart  was 
full,  naturally,  for  I  thought  that  I  had  de- 
ceived myself — that  ho  didn't  care  for  me  at 
all." 

"  You  never  said  anything  to  me  about  it." 

"No,  for  in  the  first  place  I  imagined  that 
it  was  all  over.  Then,  to  no  one,  not  even  to 
you,  would  I  wish  to  speak  of  such  a  subject. 
It  seems  to  me  that  when  one  is  very  much  in 
love,  one  should  only  talk  of  one's  love  to  one- 
self. It  is  the  only  way  one  can  be  truly 
understood." 

"Then,"  said  Bijou,  laughing,  "you  think 
that  I  understand  nothing  about  love  ?" 

"  About  love  as  I  understand  it  ?  no!  You 
are  too  pretty,  too  much  made  of,  too  much 
adored,  to  be  able,  like  myself,  to  concentrate 
your  heart  upon  one  sole  intense  affection," 

Bijou  sighed,  and  said  with  sadness: 


1 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  I47 

"  It  must  be  so  nice  to  love  like  that." 

"  Dear  me,  it  would  be  easy  enough  for  you. 
Your  cousin  De  Blaye  adores  you.  Oh,  don't 
attempt  to  deny  it.  It  is  quite  evident.  I  saw 
it  at  once." 

"  You  are  dreaming,"  said  Bijou  in  astonish- 
ment. 

' '  No,  indeed,  he  loves  you,  loves  you  madly, 
and  he  seems  to  me  a  man  worthy  of  your 
love." 

"Instead  of  talking  such  nonsense,  finish 
telling  me  about  your  betrothal.  We  had  got 
as  far  as  where  you  had  left  Bordeaux — when 
you  were  thinking  that  all  was  over.  Then 
after  that  ?" 

"Then  after  that,  fifteen  days  ago,  the 
chair  of  philosophy  was  left  vacant,  and  papa 
learned  with  surprise  that  M.  Spiegel  had  been 
appointed  to  fill  it,  and  he  said  to  me,  '  It's  a 
disgrace — Pont-sur-Loire  is  not  as  important  a 
place  as  Bordeaux.'  And  then,  after  all,  it 
wasn't  in  the  least  a  disgrace." 

"So  it  was  he  who  had  requested  this 
change." 

"  Precisely,  and  last  Monday  he  came  to  the 
house  with  his  mother,  who  asked  papa  for 
his  consent  to  my  marriage  with  her  son." 

"  What  kind  of  a  person  is  his  mother?" 

"Very  nice — still  handsome,  but  very  se- 
vere—a  little  hard." 


148  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"You  mustn't  mind  that;  all  Protestant 
women  give  that  effect." 

"How  did  you  know  that  she  was  a  Pro- 
testant ?" 

"Because  I  supposed 'that  she  was  of  the 
same  religion  as  her  son." 

"But  who  told  you  that  M.  Spiegel  was  a 
Protestant  ?" 

"Nobody.  I  saw  it  at  once;  it  didn't  take 
me  long  to  discover  it." 

"  Bat  how  could  you  tell  ?" 

"  I  couldn't  say,  but  I  was  sure  of  it  all  the 
same.  You  are  very  fortunate  to  marry  a 
Protestant,  they  are  more  serious,  more  con- 
siderate, more  devoted." 

"Yes,  perhaps  so;  but  his  mother  seems,  as 
I  said,  very  severe,  very — and  she  is  to  live 
with  us." 

"  Well,  so  much  the  better.  Isn't  it  a  safe- 
guard to  have  a  rather  austere  mother  with 
you  ?    It  at  once  inspires  respect." 

"  I  don't  think  that  I  require  the  presence 
of  any  one  to  inspire  respect,  and  in  any  case 
it  seems  to  me  that  so  far  as  that  goes  the 
husband  is " 

"Oh!  the  husband  doesn't  count!" 

"  Doesn't  count  ?" 

"  No,  now  with  parents  it  is  quite  different, 
and  I  have  been  educated  to  believe  in  parents 
^n  the  belief  that  their  presence  brings  not 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP,  149 

only  respect  but  happiness  to  the  hearth- 
stone." 

"Well,  I  think  so,  too,  where  papa  is  con- 
cerned; but  after  all  Madame  Spiegel  is  a 
stranger  to  me — and  I  am  a  little  vexed  with 
her  for  coming  to  disturb  the  intimacy  of 
our  fireside,  that  I  should  have  so  much  en- 
joyed." 

"  You  must  say  to  yourself  that  she  is  your 
husband's  mother,  and  that  as  he  loves  her 
your  affection  for  him  ought  to  m-.^e  you 
care  for  her,  too." 

"You  are  right.  How  I  wish  I  were  like 
you,  my  dear  Bijou.  You  are  so  much  better 
than  I." 

"  I  ?    Oh,  I  am  an  angel,  that's  understood.'* 

"You  are  joking — but  it  is  true,  now." 

"Tell  me.  Won't  it  make  me  feel  very 
badly  to  leave  yonr  fiance  for  this  whole  week 
that  you  have  so  kindly  promised  to  pass 
with  me  ?" 

"No;  besides  he  will  come  to  see  me  with 
papa — with  your  grandmother's  permission — 
and  then  he  is  going  to  Paris  for  several 
days." 

"And  here  am  I,  like  a  goose,  forcing  you  to 
walk  with  me — without  stopping  to  think  that 
the  unfortunate  youth  is  surely  grieving  over 
your  absence.     Don't  you  want  to  go  back  f 

"Yes,  I  should  like  to." 


150  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

A  gleam  of  light  stole  from  beneath  Bijou's 
curling  lashes,  as  she  asked,  with  an  air  of  in- 
difference: 

"Tell  me  now — what  was  it  that  gave  you 
such  a  strange  idea — that  Jean  de  Blaye  was 
in  love  with  me." 

"  The  way  in  which  he  looked  at  you  all  the 
while  we  were  at  breakfast,  and  also  his  an- 
noyance when  we  were  awaiting  you  this 
morning  at  the  front  door  and  saw  you  arrive 
with  little  Jonzac  and  his  tutor." 

"You  have  too  much  imagination." 

"No,  I  am  sure  that  he  likes  you— a  great 
deal.     And  you  ?" 

*'I?" 

"  Yes.     Don't  you  like  him  ?" 

"  No;  at  least  not  in  the  way  that  you  mean. 
He  is  my  cousin — and  I  like  him  as  one  likes  a 
very  nice  cousin — but  whom  one  knows  too 
well  to  care  for  in  any  other  way. " 

"That's  a  pity." 

"But  why?" 

"Because  it  seems  to  me  that  you  might  be 
happy  with  him." 

Bijou  shook  her  head. 

"  I  don't  think  so.  I  require  a  more  serious 
husband  than  Jean." 

"More  serious?  But  Monsieur  de  Blaye 
must  be  at  least  thirty-four  or  thirty-five 
years  old." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  151 

"What  difference  does  that  make?  He  is 
not  serious,  you  know.     Not  ut  all." 

"  Oh  !  I  didn't  know." 

"As  to  me,  I  should  like  to  have  a  husband 
who  cared  for  no  one  but  myself." 

"  Any  one  as  pretty  and  attractive  as  your- 
self can  rest  perfectly  easy  on  that  score." 

Bijou  suddenly  came  to  a  standstill  in  the 
middle  of  the  walk,  and  shading  her  eyes  ex- 
claimed: 

"Isn't  that  a  carriage  over  there  in  the 
avenue  ?" 

"Yes,  certainly." 

"But  is  it  really  a  carriage?  I  can't  see 
anything.     I  am  so  near-sighted." 

"It  is  a  phaeton  with  two  horses,  and  a 
gentleman  driving,  whom  I  do  not  know." 

"  Is  it  really  ?" 

And  as  Jeanne  nodded  she  said- 

"It  is  Monsieur  de  Clagny,'  a  friend  of 
grandmother's,  the  proprietor  of  La  Noriniere." 

"  Ah  !  that  man  who  is  so  rich  ?" 

"  So  rich  ?  What  makes  you  think  that  he  is 
so  very  rich  ?    I  never  heard  a  word  about  it." 

"Why,  yes,  he  has  an  immense  fortune — 
all  in  lands." 

But  Bijou  was  not  listening.  She  had  gath- 
ered a  daisy,  that  was  growing  in  the  grass, 
bending  its  timid  head  over  the  pathway,  and 
quite  absorbed  she  was  pulling  out  the  leaves. 


152  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Well,"  asked  Jeanne,  smiling,  "how  does 
he  love  you  ?" 

Bijou  raised  her  pretty  head  in  surprise. 

"  Who  do  you  mean  ?" 

"The  one  about  whom  you  were  question- 
ing the  daisy.  Marguerite." 

"  I  don't  know.  I  wasn't  asking  about 
anybody." 

"  And  what  is  the  answer?" 

"Passionately." 

"Well,  it  has  answered  for  every  one." 

And  going  up  the  front  steps  behind  her 
little  friend,  Jeanne  added: 

"It's  true.  Everyone  loves  you,  and  you 
really  deserve  it." 

When  the  two  young  girls  entered  the  hall, 
the  somewhat  sleepy  countenances  again  awoke 
to  life.  Henry  de  Bracieux  murmured  an 
"At  last.  It's  about  time."  Which  caused 
his  grandmother  to  glance  at  him  keenly. 
While  Monsieur  de  Clagny  almost  ran  forward 
to  meet  Bijou: 

"  Oh  !  how  nice  !"  said  she  sweetly;  "  it  is  so 
kind  of  you  to  come  and  see  us  so  soon 
again." 

'  *  Too  kind  !  You're  going  to  have  more 
than  you  want  of  me." 

"Never!"  replied  she,  smiling. 

Then  taking  Jeanne's  hand  she  introduced 
her. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  153 

"Jeanne  Dubuisson,  my  best  friend,  whom 
I  am  going  to  lose,  for  she  is  going  to  be 
married." 

"  But,"  said  the  young  girl  in  a  grieved  tone, 
"  why  do  you  say  that,  Bijou.  You  know  very 
well  that,  married  or  not,  I  shall  always  be 
your  friend." 

"  Yes,  so  they  all  say;  but  it  is  never  the 
same  thing.  When  one  is  married  one  belongs 
no  more  to  one's  parents,  nor  to  one's  friends; 
one  belongs  to  one's  husband,  and  to  him 
alone." 

"How  beautiful  are  these  illusions,"  said 
Monsieur  de  Clagny  in  an  undertone. 

"  What  is  that  you  are  saying  ?"  asked  Bijou, 
turning  suddenly  to  him. 

"  Something  stupid." 

"No.  I  am  perfectly  sure  that  you  are 
making  fun  of  me.  You  needn't  shake  your 
head.  I  know  that  you  are,  all  the  same;  and 
it's  because  I  said  that  when  one  is  married 
one  no  longer  belongs  to  any  one  but  one's  hus- 
band. Well,  that  may  be  very  ridiculous,  but 
it's  my  opinion,  and  I  am  sure  tliat  Monsieur 
Spiegel  is  of  the  same  opinion  too." 

The  young  man  smiled  and  bowed  without 
answering,  and  Bijou,  still  addressing  the 
count,  said: 

"  Have  they  introduced  Monsieur  Spiegel  to 
you?    No!  then  let  me  repair  the  oraissiorj. 


154  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Monsieur  Spiegel,  Jeanne's^awe^— who  does  not 
dare  to  maintain  that  I  am  right,  because  he 
has  no  one  to  help  him — it's  quite  true,  lie  is 
the  only  husband  here,  or  almost  the  only  one." 

"Well,  and  Paul,"  said  the  marchioness, 
laughing. 

"Paul!  Ah,  yes!  that's  true.  I  didn't  think 
of  him.  Still  the  unmarried  men  predominate. 
Henry,  Pierrot,  the  Abbe,  Monsieur  Giraud, 
Jeanne — ah!  what  is  the  matter  with  Jean? 
he  has  a  queer  look." 

Jean  de  Blaye,  who  was  seated  in  a  large 
bamboo  chair,  with  half  dosed  eyes,  and  his 
head  leaning  on  his  hand,  appeared  to  be 
sleeping. 

"  I  have  a  headache,"  he  answered. 

And  as  she  persisted  in  questioning  him  as 
to  how  he  had  got  it,  he  exclaimed  crossly: 

"Why  it's  the  migraine;  can  anyone  tell 
how  one  gets  it;  one  has  it,  and  that's  all  one 
knows  about  it." 

Bijou  had  stepped  behind  the  easy-chair,  in 
which  her  cousin  was  reclining,  without  allow- 
ing herself  to  be  discouraged  by  his  brusquerie, 
and  regarding  his  pale  face,  his  drawn  features, 
the  dark  circles  under  his  eyes,  she  continued: 

"  You  must  be  very  ill  to  look  like  that,  and 
above  all  to  admit  that  anything  is  the  matter 
■with  you — you  who  always  pose  as  a  strong 
man.  My  poor  Jean.  How  I  wish  I  could  do 
something  for  you." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  155 

Then,  leaning  over,  iipon  the  young  man's 
burning  lids  she  pressed  a  lingering  kiss.  Jean 
de  Blaye  grew  quite  pale,  then  very  red,  and 
rising  suddenly,  with  a  quick  gesture  he  ex- 
claimed, in  an  irritated  tone,  and  with  un- 
certain glance: 

"  You  frightened  me.  It's  very  stupid  of 
me,  I  know,  but  I  didn't  see  you,  and  then  you 
took  me  by  surpi'ise." 

'Monsieur  de  Clagny  had  arisen  also,  in  a  sort 
of  rage,on  seeing|BiJou  kiss  her  cousin,  but  un 
derstanding  how  absurd  such  jealous  emotion 
must  appear,  he  reseated  himself  and  said  in 
ironical  tones: 

"If  this  remedy  does  not  avail,  Blaye's 
disease  must  be  incurable." 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  regarded  Jean,  who  was 
leaving  the  room,  with  envy,  and  addressing 
Bijou  in  tremulous  tones,  murmured: 

""When  I  have  the  m/^frame — which  often 
happens,  alas! — you  are  less  compassionate." 

Monsieur  Giraud  seemed  petrified  on  the  low 
chair  where  he  was  seated;  with  eyes  fixed  on 
the  ground,  and  compressed  lips,  lie  seemed  to 
have  seen  nothing. 

But  Pierrot  exclaimed  boldly: 

"  What  luck  he  has!  that  plague  of  a  Jean." 

"Of  course,  of  course,"  replied  the  Abbe 
Courted,  with  conviction,  "but  he  has  a  bad 
beadache,  all  the  same;  le  pauves,  monsieur! 
I  know  all  about  la  migraine!" 


156  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

The  marchioness  leaned  over  toward  Ber- 
trade,  and  whispered  in  her  ear,  glancing 
toward  Bijou. 

"  Isn't  she  charming  ?  the  dear  little  creature, 
and  so  good-hearted,  and  above  all  such  a 
child.  How  simply  and  naturally  she  kissed 
that  6Za.se' Jean — it  seemed  to  frighten  him." 

"  Didn't  you  observe  that  he  left  the  room  at 
once,  without  even  saying  good -by  to  Monsieur 
Dubuisson  and  Monsieur  Spiegel  who  are  going 
away?"  said  Bertrade. 

The  marchioness  turned  toward  the  two 
men  who  were  advancing  to  make  their  adieu, 
and  said : 

"  Since  we  are  keeping  your  Jeanne  with  us, 
I  hope  that  you  will  come  and  see  her  often." 

"Do  you  mind  staying  at  Braeieux?  Now, 
tell  me  truly,"  said  Bijou,  addressing  her 
friend. 

"You  know  I  shouldn't  be  in  the  least 
vexed  with  you  for  preferring  your  fiance  to 
your  friend. 

"  Spiegel  is  obliged  to  go  and  spend  some 
days  at  Paris,"  said  Monsieur  Dubuisson, 
"and  on  his  return  I  will  come  with  him  to 
bring  Jeanne  back. " 

On  leaving  the  drawing-room,  a  few  moments 
before,  Jean  de  Blaye  had  experienced  most 
unpleasant  sensations.  Bijou's  innocent  kiss, 
bestowed  so  frankly   before  everybody,  had 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  157 

greatly  distressed  him.  Must  he  decide  to  tell 
Bijou  of  his  love  for  her  ?  And  even  admit- 
ing  that  she  would  not  refuse  to  listen  to  him, 
was  he  in  a  position  to  marry  this  marvelous 
jewel,  formed  for  a  luxurious  setting  ?  Many 
times  had  he  thought  of  it  already,  and  had 
always  told  himself  that  it  would  be  an  absurd 
piece  of  madness  on  his  part.  And  then, 
Bijou  would  never  love  him  enough  to  accept 
such  a  condition  of  mild  mediocrity.  As  he 
had  promised  Madame  de  Nezel  to  go  to  Pont- 
sur-Loire  on  the  following  day,  he  wrote  her 
a  lino  excusing  himself.  On  sealing  his  let- 
ter, he  thought,  she  will  not  believe  this  pre- 
text I  am  giving  her — but  she  will  understand, 
and  so  all  is  over." 

Then  suddenly  he  felt  alone  in  the  world, 
quite  alone,  for  a  singularly  clear  vision  of  the 
life  that  would  henceforth  be  his  was  now 
plainly  revealed,  and  the  glimpse  of  this  pros- 
pect, so  dreary  and  dark,  made  him  shudder 
with  grief  and  regret. 

While  his  poor  head  was  thus  tormented, 
Bijou  was  showing  Jean  her  room,  saying: 

"You  are  dreaming — I  tell  you  you  are 
dreaming! — he  likes  me  as  one  likes  a  cousin 
— or  even  a  sister." 

"  No  ;  one  had  only  to  look  at  his  face  when 
he  left  the  drawing-room — he  was  quite  over- 
come; I  am  sure  that  he  is  so  still." 


158  BIJOU'S  COURTSUIP 

"  Would  you  like  mc  to  <^o  and  ask  him? 
But,  no,  it  is  seven  o'clock!  we  have  only  just 
time  to  dress.  I  shall  come  back  for  you,  after 
the  fii'st  bell  for  dinner." 

"When  Bijou,  as  ever,  simply  but  charmingly 
dressed,  left  her  room,  the  large  corridor  on 
the  first  floor  was  dark  and  silent.  Every  one 
was  in  their  rooms  dressing  for  the  evening. 
The  servants,  who  had  closed  the  blinds,  had 
not  yet  lit  the  lamps. 

Jean,  who  was  leaving  his  room,  dis- 
tinguished in  the  obscurity  a  white  figure,  which 
he  hastened  to  rejoin. 

"  Is  it  you,  Jean  ?"  asked  Bijou. 

"  Yes,  it  is  I— and — I  have  a  word  to  say  to 
you.*' 

"You  mustn't  be  long,  the  first  bell  has 
rung." 

"I  won't  be  a  minute,  but  I  prefer  that 
what  I  have  to  say  should  only  be  heard  by 
yourself." 

"Would  you  like  to  go  in  your  room,  or 
mine  ?" 

"  In  yours,  as  we  are  right  by  the  door." 

Bijou  opened  it,  and  when  Jean  had  en- 
tered she  said. 

"Wait — don't  stir — or  you'll  hurt  yourself. 
I  will  turn  on  the  light." 

"  He  seized  her  by  the  arm." 

"  Don't  bother    about    the    light.      I    can 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  159 

speak  without  seeing.  Besides  it  won't  take 
long.  I  want  to  tell  you,  my  dear  Bijou,  what 
you  did— you  know,  a  little  while  ago." 

She  appeared  to  reflect. 

*' A  little  while  ago.  What  was  it  that  I 
did  ?" 

"  You  kissed  me — gently,  oh,  quite  gently — 
but  you  are  too  old  to  do  it — when  there  are 
others  present." 

"  And  when  no  one  is  there — then  may  I 
do  it  ?"  asked  she  laughingly. 

And  before  he  had  time  to  answer  she 
seized  him  by  the  shoulders  and  put  up  her 
mouth;  at  that  moment,  as  he  bent  his  head, 
their  lips  met.  He  uttered  a  low  ery,  while  a 
timid  and  plaintive  murmur  from  Bijou  moved 
him  so  deeply  that,  determined  to  speak,  he 
tried  to  draw  the  young  girl  to  him,  but  she 
forced  ba'^k  the  hands  that  strove  to  retain 
her,  and  darted  out  of  the  room,  and  by  the 
swift  rustling  of  her  gown  against  the  wall 
he  knew  that  she  had  flown  away. 


ICO  BIJOU  ri  CUUKTbUlP. 


On  the  following  day  Mother  Kafut  arrived. 
Bijou  had  expected  to  keep  her  for  a  week,  so 
she  was  greatly  disappointed  when  the  old 
seamstress  informed  her  that  she  could  only 
give  her  six  days.  The  theater  would  be  re- 
opened on  the  first  of  September,  and  she 
would  then  have  to  resume  her  situation  of 
dresser.  Jeanne  then  proposed  to  help  a  little 
on  the  gowns,  and  Bijou  gladly  accepted  the 
proposition. 

"  That's  a  splendid  idea,"  said  she.  "  If  we 
work  together,  we  shan't  get  tired;  and  we  can 
talk  without  minding  Mother  Rafut." 

So  on  that  day,  while  the  marchioness  and 
Madame  de  Eueille  were  engaged  in  making 
what  Jean  de  Blaye  termed  ''a  round  of  visits," 
they  installed  themselves  in  Bijou's  studio, 
transformed  into  a  sewing  room,  and  began 
to  cut,  sew  and  chatter,  seated  near  the  old 
seamstress.     All  at  once  Bijou  asked: 

"  Are  you  going  to  the  race  ball  ?" 

"Yes,"  said  Jeanne,  "it  appears  that  as  I 
am  engaged,  it  isn't  quite  correct — but  I  shall 
go  all  the  same,  because  Franz  wishes  to  see 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  161 

me  in  eveuing  dress;  and  besides  he  would  like 
to  waltz  with  me — he  waltzes  very  well,  do  you 
know." 

"  He,  with  his  austere  air!  Then,  decid- 
edly, you  needn't  mind  marrying  a  Protestant." 

"No,  indeed!  I  am  a  thorough  Catholic, 
without  being  a  bigot,  and  he  is  a  good  Pro- 
testant, although  no  bigot.  We  each  of  us 
think  a  great  deal  of  our  religion,  but  neither 
has  the  slightest  idea  of  converting  the  other." 

As  Bijou  made  no  reply  she  added: 

"I  am  not  averse  to  the  idea  of  having  a 
Protestant  husband.  I  even  confess  that, 
from  certain  points  of  view,  it  reassures  me. 
Yes,  what  you  said  yesterday  is  quite  true — 
that  Protestants  have  certain  ideas,  stricter 
principles  where  family  life  is  concerned  than 
Catholics,  and  besides  are  devoted  to  their 
wives." 

"Yes.  But  tell  me,  what  dress  are  you 
going  to  wear  to  the  race  ball  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  yet.     I  haven't  any." 

"  What!  and  the  white  one  with  little 
bouquets  ?" 

"  Papa  doesn't  think  it's  good  enough.  The 
race  ball  is  going  to  be  at  the  Tourvilles  this 
year,  and  it  will  be  a  very  fine  affair." 

"  Oh  !  yes,  indeed." 

"  We  don't  know  them  at  all — it  will  be  our 
first  visit  to  Tourville.     If  I  were  badly  dressed, 


162  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

that  would  be  a  poor  compliment  to  your 
grandmother,  who  got  us  the  invitations.  So 
papa  has  told  me  to  have  a  dress  made,  and 
he  has  given  me  fifty  francs." 

"What  did  you  think  of  having?" 

"  I  don't  know.     What  would  you  advise  ?" 

Bijou  seemed  to  reflect  deeply  for  a  moment, 
then  she  said: 

"  If  you  wish,  we  could  both  be  dr:;ssed 
alike;  that  would  be  ever  so  nice." 

"  What  is  your  gown  ?" 

"  It  doesn't  exist — it  is  yet  to  be.  Pink,  of 
course,  that  is  understood,  and  crepe — quite 
simple  with  straight  skirts  cut  like  those  of 
the  ballet  dancer's,  without  the  weight  of  a 
hem — three  skirts  of  the  same  length,  one 
over  the  other,  you  understand.  Three  will 
make  it  sufficiently  vaporous — any  more 
would  be  clumsy — and  forming  large  round 
godets;  a  very  simple  little  pleated  waist — 
little  puffs  with  bows  of  ribbon  and  a  ribbon 
sash,  tied  behind  with  large  bows  and  long 
ends,  the  ribbon  no  wider  than  the  hand." 

"How  pretty!" 

"And  it  will  be  awfully  becoming  to  you." 

"But,"  asked  Jeanne  somewhat  timidly, 
"won't  you  mind  having  my  gown  just  like 
yours?" 

"  On  the  contrary,  it  will  give  me  pleasure. 
Would  you  like  us  to  make  your  dress  here  ? 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  163 

I  will  try  it  on  you,  and  then  we  shall  be  sure 
that  it  will  fit." 

"  How  sweet  of  you  !  So  many  other  people 
in  your  place  would  be  thinking  only  about 
themselves." 

"  What  do  you  say  to  writing  now  and 
telling  them  to  send  the  crepe  to-morrow  ?" 

Then  she  added  laughingly: 

"  I  ought  to  have  told  Monsieur  de  Bernes, 
for  he  asked  me  last  night  if  there  were  any 
shopping  I  would  like  to  have  done  in  Pont- 
sur-Loire. " 

"  He  would  have  been  rather  at  a  loss." 

"But  why?  It  isn't  difficult  to  buy  pink 
crepe,  with  a  sample." 

Mother  Rafut,  who  so  far  had  been  sewing 
away  diligently,  without  saying  a  word,  plying 
her  needle  ceaselessly  with  a  short,  quick  mo- 
tion, now  raised  her  face,  wrinkled  as  an  old 
apple,  and  said: 

*'  And  even  without  one." 

"  Without  what  ?"  asked  Bijou. 

"Without  a  sample.  Ah!  no,  indeed,  he 
wouldn't  be  at  a  loss.  He  has  always  chosen 
Mademoiselle  Lisette  Renaud's  gowns." 

"  Lisette  Renaud,  the  singer?"  questioned 
Jeanne  eagerly,  while  Denyse,  quite  absorbed 
in  her  work,  appeared  not  to  have  heard. 

"No,  mademoiselle,  the  dugazon,''''  replied 
Mother  Rafut. 


164  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  That  is  what  I  meant  to  say.  Ah!  Mon- 
sieur do  Bern5s  knows  her  then  ?" 

"  Yes,  indeed,  he  knows  her;  he  has  known 
her  for  more  than  eighteen  months." 

"  Ah!"  said  Jeanne,  greatly  interested.  "She 
is  so  pretty — Lisette  Renaud.  I  have  seen  hei- 
in  Mignon  and  also  in  the  Dragons  de  Vil- 
lars.^^ 

"Oh!  yes,  indeed,  she  is  pretty.  And  she 
is  good,  too." 

"Good?"  said  Mademoiselle  Dubuisson, 
"but " 

"Ah!  yes — not  like  yourself,  certainly — but 
she  has  never  looked  at  any  one  but  Monsieur 
de  Bernes,  and  he  never  looks  at  any  one  but 
his  little  Lise;  but  you  should  see  how  he 
looks  at  her!  It  is  true  that  if  he  were  only  a 
superior  officer,  he  would  marry  her  at  once, 
and  he  would  be  right." 

"Jeanne,"  called  Bijou,  "there  is  the  first 
breakfast  bell." 

And  when  they  had  left  the  room,  she  said, 
in  a  very  gentle  tone,  with  only  a  suspicion  of 
reproach  in  it: 

"Why  do  you  allow  Mother  Rafut  to  tell 
you  stories  that  you  ought  not  to  listen  to  ?" 

The  young  girl  blushed,  and  replied  witb 
embarrassment: 

^^  Mon  Dieu  I  Her  story  wasn't  very  shock- 
ing, and  besides,  even  admitting  that  it  were, 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  165 

how  could  I  have  prevented  her  from  telling 
it?" 

"Oh!  very  easily.  All  you  had  to  do  was 
not  to  answer  or  listen,  and  you  would  have 
seen  then  that  she  would  have  stopped  talk- 
ing." 

"Yes,  you  are  right." 

And  throwing  her  arms  around  Bijou's 
neck  Jeanne  kissed  her,  saying: 

"You  are  always  right.  As  to  myself,  you 
see,  that  with  my  serious  air  I  am  far  more 
frivolous  than  you;  and  weaker,  too.  I  don't 
know  how  to  resist  what  amuses  me." 

"And  that  amused  you ?" 

"  Very  much." 

"  Grand  Dieu!  What  was  there  amusing 
about  it  ?" 

^'■Dame!  I  don't  exactly  know.  To  begin 
with,  I  am  curious;  and  also  observing;  then 
this  story  thoroughly  accounted  for  some 
things  that  I  had  previously  remarked." 

"But  when?" 

' '  Why,  for  the  last  four  or  five  months — 
since  I  have  been  going  out  a  little." 

"  What  have  you  remarked  ?" 

"I  have  observed  that  Monsieur  de  Bernes 
never  paid  attention  to  any  woman;  that  he 
never  even  looked  at  one;  that  he  was  barely 
polite,  even  to  the  prettiest  women;  and  the 
proof  of  it  is,  that  he  has  never  even  tried  to 
flirt  with  you." 


166  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Oh!  indeed  no!  Never!"  replied  Bijou 
laughingly,  "but  because  he  has  never  tried, 
to  flirt  with  mo  doesn't  prove  tliat  he  may 
not  have  done  so  with  others." 

"No.  Mother  Rafnt  must  be  right.  And 
after  all  this  story  doesn't  surprise  me.  You 
have  no  idea  how  chariniug  Lise  Renaud  is; 
somewhat  in  your  style,  only  she  is  taller 
than  you,  and  not  =o  blond— but  her  eyes  are 
wonderful.  And  she  has  such  a  pretty  supple 
figure,  almost  as  supple  as  your  own.  In  fact 
I  can  understand  that  whoever  chanced  to  fall 
in  love  with  her  would  love  her  with  all  his 
heart;  and  then  she  is  talented,  and  has  a 
lovely  voice,  a  contralto.  I  am  sure  you 
would  like  her." 

"I  don't  think  so." 

"Why  not?" 

"I  don't  care  for  women  who  act  in  plays, 
or  at  least  for  those  who  do  it  well.  It  is  a 
sort  of  indication  of  duplicity." 

"  OhI  I  don't  think  so.  It  is  rather  a  proof 
of  a  power  of  adaptation,  of  great  sensitiveness, 
but  not  of  duplicity." 

"Well,  I  don't  look  at  it  from  the  same 
point  of  view.  Which  probably  doesn't  pre- 
vent mademoiselle —    What  is  her  name  ?" 

* '  Lise  Renaud. " 

"Mademoiselle  Lise  Renaud  from  being  a 
charming  person,  doubtless,  in  the  eyes  of 
Monsieur  de  Barnes." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  ltJ7  ■ 

"You  don't  like  Monsieur  de  Bernfes  very 
much,  do  you  ?" 

"  Why  should  you  think  so?  He  is  quite 
indifferent  to  me,  and  he  appears  to  me  a 
little " 

"Oh!  no.  I  see  a  good  deal  of  him  at 
Pont-sur-Loire.  He  is  very  intelligent,  aw- 
fully nice,  and  then  he  is  very  good  looking, 
too.     Don't  you  think  so  ?" 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  that  I  had  never  paid  any 
particular  attention  to  Monsieur  de  Bernes'  ap- 
pearance? But,"  added  Bijou  laughingly, 
"the  next  time  that  I  see  him  I  shall  look  at 
him  with  all  my  eyes.  And  I  shall  endeavor 
to  discover  his  numerous  perfections,  in  order 
to  please  Monsieur  de  Clagny." 

"  You  think  a  good  deal  of  him,  don't  you  ?" 

"Of  him!    Oh!  yes,  indeed!" 

"  I  saw  that  at  once.  From  the  moment  that 
I  arrived  you  have  done  nothing  but  talk 
about  him,  and  yesterday  when  he  came  you 
were  enchanted." 

"Oh!  yes,  he  is  so  kind,  so  lovely  to  me." 

"  But  every  one  is  lovely  to  you.  Every  one 
adores  you." 

"Everybody  is  altogether  too  good  and  kind 
to  me — I  know  that  very  well — but  Monsieur 
de  Clagny  is  even  more  so  than  tlie  others.  I 
have  only  known  him  for  three  days,  and  now 
I  cannot  get  on  without  him.     Whenever  I  see 


168  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.      • 

him  I  am  gay  and  happy,  and  I  should 
like  to  have  him  here  all  the  time.  Yes,  I 
should  like  to  have  a  father  or  an  urcle  like 
him.     Wouldn't  you  ?" 

"Oh!  as  far  as  I  am  concerned,  it  would 
be  impossible  for  me  to  think  of  any  one  but 
papa  as  a  father.  I  adore  him  just  as  he  is. 
Possibly  papa  may  appear  very  ordinary  to 
other  people,  but  he  is  papa.  Still  I  think 
Monsieur  de  Clagny  is  v  '  e,  and  he  must 
have  been  charming.'" 

"Well,  for  my  pat..,  i  think  that  he  is  so 
still." 

The  two  girls  had  now  reached  the  vestibule. 
Jeanne  walked  up  to  the  door,  exclaiming: 

"  How  warm  it  is!" 

Then  shading  her  eyes  with  her  hand,  she 
continued: 

"Look!  Here  is  a  coach.  Who  can  be 
coming  on  a  coach  ?" 

"  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  naturally,"  cried 
Bijou  joyously,  rushing  outside;  "he  told 
grandmother  that  if  he  could  get  off  he  should 
come  and  ask  her  to  let  him  breakfast  with 
us." 

"And  he  has  succeeded,"  said  Monsieur  de 
Eueille  sarcastically,  as  he  was  leaving  the 
hall.  "  We  have  seen  a  good  deal  of  Monsieur 
de  Clagny  for  the  last  three  days. "  And  he 
added  still  more  bitterly:  "  It  is  quite  evident 
that  he  is  pleased  with  our  society." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  169 

The  spectacle  of  the  horses  drawn  up  in  front 
of  the  door,  however,  disarmed  him,  and  he 
exclaimed  in  admiration: 

^^  Matm!  what  superb  horses!  so  beautifully 
handled,  too.  One  can't  deny  that  the  old 
fellow  is  a  good  whip." 

After  breakfast  Pierrot  declared  that  he  had 
a  pain  in  his  foot,  and  that  the  pain  extended  to 
the  tips  of  hi?  «.     He  didn't  understand 

what  it  could  be. 

"I  understand  penectly,"  said  Jean  de 
Blaye;  "  it's  because  his  shoes  are  too  short." 

"Too  short?"  said  Monsieur  de  Jonzac; 
"but  that's  impossible."  After  a  moment's 
reflection  he  added  in  affright:  "  Unless  his 
feet  should  have  grown  still  more." 

Jean  began  to  laugh. 

"  That's  what  they  probably  have  done.  In 
any  case,  his  fingers  are  turned  back  at  the 
end,  and  climbing  over  each  other,  I  am  sure. 
You  have  only  to  look  at  his  feet  to  prove  it. 
They  are  all  lumps.  They  look  exactly  like 
bags  of  nuts." 

"I  am  going  to  make  him  buy  some  shoes 
to-day,"  replied  Monsieur  de  Jonzac. 

"I  think,  uncle,  that  it  would  be  better  to 
send  him  to  Pont-sur-Loire  to  be  measured. 
There  ought  to  be  some  sort  of  a  shoemaker 
there. " 


170  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Monsieur  VAbh6.  is  just  going  there  to  take 
a  letter  to  the  bishop's  and  to  get  the  answer," 
said  Madame  do  Bracieux;  "so  he  could  very 
well  take  Pierrot  witli  him." 

"Then,"  said  Bijou,  "we  could  take  the 
omnibus,  and  Jeanne  and  I  could  go  too;  we've 
got  a  lot  of  things  to  do." 

"  What  are  they?"  asked  the  marchioness. 

"  "Why,  in  the  first  jilace,  we  must  get  some 
crepe — some  crepe  for  Jeanne;  and  then  some 
paints  and  pencils  that  I  need — in  fact,  a  quan- 
tity of  things." 

"  Would  j^ou  like  me  to  take  you  all?"  pro- 
posed Monsieur  de  Clagny.  "  I  have  an  ap- 
pointment at  three  o'clock  at  Pont-sur-Loire, 
at  a  lawyer's.  You  can  do  your  shopping  and 
I  will  bring  you  back.  It  will  be  all  on  the 
way  to  La  Noriniere." 

"Oh,  what  fun!"  said  Bijou,  enraptured; 
"  and  I,  who  have  never  been  on  a  coach  ! 
You'll  let  us  go,  won't  you,  grandmother  ?" 

But  Madame  de  Bracieux  seemed  to  hesi- 
tate, and  said: 

"  You'll  be  making  yourself  very  conspicu- 
ous at  Pont-sur-Loire,  my  dear  Bijou,  and  for 
young  girls  indeed  I  fear  that  it  wouldn't  be 
altogether  proper." 

"Oh,  grandmother!"  cried  Bijou,  "not 
proper  with  Monsieur  de  Clagny  ?" 

"  Yes,  with  me,"  emphasized  the  count,  his 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  171 

face  growing  suddenly  grave;  "  there  is  no 
danger;  I  am  not  compromising." 

"Evidently  not,"  replied  Madame  de  Bra- 
cieux  with  sincei'ity,  "but  the  people  at  Pont- 
sur-Loire  are  so  ill-natured." 

"Oh,  grandmother,"  implored  Bijou,  "do 
not  deprive  us  of  a  pleasure  in  which  you  see 
no  harm,  simply  on  account  of  some  people  at 
Pont-sur-Loire  whom  you  care  so  little  about. " 

"  You  are  right.  Go,  then,  my  children, 
since  it  amuses  you;  and  may  there  not  be 
any  harm,  as  you  say,  in  amusing  yourselves 
thus." 

"Is  there  a  little  bit  of  a  place  for  me?" 
asked  Rueille. 

"  There  is  room  for  you  as  well  as  for  some 
others,"  replied  Monsieur  de  Clagny.  "We 
are  only  six — so  far." 

"  What  do  you  say  about  going,  to  look  after 
the  little  ones  ?"  said  the  marchioness,  turning 
to  Bertrade. 

Glancing  toward  her  husband,  who  lowered 
his  eyee  and  appeared  to  be  attentively  con- 
templating the  floor,  Madame  de  Rueille  re- 
plied : 

"  Paul  can  very  well  look  after  them." 

Bijou  now  advanced  and  said: 

"  I  would  like  you  not  to  leave  before  three 
o'clock,  because  here  comes  Monsieur  Sylvestre, 
who  is  going  to  give  me  my  lesson  in  accom- 
paniments.    He  is  walking  up  the  avenue." 


17^  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

The  marchioness  looked  out  of  the  window 
and  exclaimed:] 

"The  unfortunate  man!  lie  has  come  on 
foot  in  this  dreadful  heat." 

"He  always  comes  on  foot,  grandmother." 

"  Five  kilometers — that's  not  such  an  enor- 
mous distance,"  said  Henry  de  Bracieux. 

"  Not  to  you,  when  you  are  in  a  carriage,  of 
course  not,"  said  Bijou,  turning  toward  him. 

'•'•Ball!  When  one  is  out  shooting,  one 
,walks  a  good  deal  more  than  that." 

"But,  then,  when  one  is  shooting,  one  is 
amused — that's  quite  different.  I  can  tell  you 
that  if  I  only  dared,  I  should  always  have  Mon- 
sieur Sylvestre  sent  back  in  a  carriage." 

"If  you  would  like  to,  we  will  take  him 
back  to-day,"  said  Monsieur  de  Clagny. 

"Indeed,  I  should  like  it.  It  is  very  kind 
of  you  to  offer  to  do  it,  because  you  know  he 
isn't  particularly  beautiful — my  professor  of 
accompaniments — and  he  won't  be  an  orna- 
ment to  your  coach." 

"  Do  you  think  I  mind  that  ?  I  am  not  a 
snob.  Bijou — not  in  the  least  a  snob." 

"But,"  said  Jean  de  Blaye,  "this  youth 
isn't  so  bad  looking;  he  has  exquisite  eyes — 
wonderfully  clear,  with  a  sweet  expression." 

"I  haven't  remarked  them,"  replied  Bijou, 
laughing;  "  but  even  so,  eyes  are  not  particu- 
larly noticeable  on  the  top  of  a  coach;  and  he 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  173 

dresses  so  strangely;  his  clothes  are  too  tight 
and  cling  to  him,  and  his  hair  is  long  and 
clinging  too;  he  looks  something  like  a  drowned 
man." 

"  Monsieur  Sylvestre  is  here,"  announced  a 
servant. 

"  Have  they  told  Josephine  V  asked  Madame 
de  Bracieux. 

"  Yes,  Madame  la  Marquise,  Josephine  is  in 
mademoiselle's  room." 
Jeanne  Dubuisson  arose,  but  Bijou  said: 
"No,  don't  come.  When  I  know  that  any 
one  is  there — any  one  but  Josephine — I  can't 
do  good  work."  As  she  was  going  out  she 
added:  "At  three  o'clock  I  shall  come  back 
with  my  hat — and  with  Monsieur  Sylvestre. " 

When  Bijou  entered  her  room,  Josephine, 
the  old  governess,  who  had  brought  up  two 
generations  of  Bracieux,  was  working  near  the 
window,  while  in  the  adjoining  sitting-room 
the  musician  was  setting  up  the  desk  and  tak- 
ing the  violin  out  of  the  box. 

At  the  sight  of  the  young  girl  his  very  blue 
eyes  became  still  lighter,  looking  extremely 
faint  in  hue  in  contrast  with  his  flushed  face. 
He  was  a  youth  of  twenty-eight,  very  thin, 
awkward,  and  very  poorly  dressed,  but  whose 
face  was  interesting,  owing  to  its  indescribably 
sad  and  sympathetic  expression. 

"How  warm  you  are,  Monsieur  Sylvestre  1" 


174  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

said  Bijou,  giving  him  her  hand.  "And  they 
haven't  brought  you  anything  to  drink  yet !" 
Then,  going  to  the  door  of  her  room,  she  culled 
out:  "Josephine,  will  you  tell  them  to 
bring — ?  What  will  you  take.  Monsieur  Syl- 
vestre,  some  beer,  lemonade,  wine,  or  what  ? 
I  can  never  remember." 

"Some  lemonade,  if  you  please.  But  you 
are  too  kind,  mademoiselle,  to  bother  youi'self 
about  me  in  this  way." 

But  Denyse  interrupted  him  with: 

"  I  forgot  to  get  the  music  that  you  told  me 
about  from  Pont-sur-Loire.  Now  you're  going 
to  scold  me." 

"Oh,  mademoiselle!"  he  replied,  in  timid 
tones,  "  scold  you  ?    I?" 

"  Yes,  you.  If  you  don't  scold  me  you  are 
wrong.  Come,  what  shall  we  play  ?  Ah,  I 
had  forgotten  !  I  am  going  to  ask  you  first  to 
sit  down  at  the  piano  and  to  play  my  accom- 
paniment to  a  stupid  romance  that  I  am  learn- 
ing." 

"What  romance?" 

'■'■  Ay  Chiqidta  !  It's  absui'd,  isn't  it  ?  But 
we  have  an  old  friend  who  adores  it,  and  who 
has  asked  me  to  sing  it  for  him. " 

"Ifon  Dieu !  Ay  Chiqidta.  It  isn't  ac- 
tually absurd;  it  has  become  somewhat 
hackneyed,  that  is  all." 

"  Ah!"  he  added,  while  looking  at  the  music, 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  175 

' '  you  sing  it  in  a  high  key.  I  should  have 
said " 

"Yes,  I  sing  it  in  an  upper  key.  That 
makes  it  still  more  ugly,  Dieu !  How  I 
should  like  to  have  a  deep  voice.  Deep  voices 
are  so  beautiful — only  there  aren't  any." 

"  They  are  rare,  still  there  are  some." 

Bijou  shook  her  head. 

"  I  have  never  heard  any." 

"Well,  still  there  is  one  that  you  could 
hear." 

"But  where?' 

"At  the  Pont-sur-Loire  theater.  Yes, 
Mademoiselle  Lise  Renaud,  a  young  singer 
with  a  great  deal  of  talent,  and  very  pretty 
too — which  does  no  harm." 

"  Has  she  a  fine  voice  ?" 

"A  very  fine  voice,  indeed.  I  am  in  the 
habit  of  hearing  her  about  three  times  a  week, 
without  counting  rehearsals  with  the  orchestra. 
Well,  I  never  weary  of  it. " 

"  Ah  !  do  you  know  if  she  would  sing  at  a 
soiree  ?" 

"Why,  certainly.  She  sings  sometimes  at 
Pont-sur-Loire." 

"  I  shall  ask  grandmother  to  have  her  here. 
Where  does  she  live  ?" 

"Eue  Rabelais.  I  don't  remember  the 
number,  but  every  one  knows  it." 

After  a  pause  the  musician  asked: 


176  BIJOU'S  COUllTSUIP. 

""Why  shouldn't  you  come  and  hear  her  at 
the  theater  ?  That  would  be  much  more  in- 
teresting for  you." 

"  Grandmother  would  never  let  me  go." 

"  I  know  very  well  that  people  in  society  at 
Pont-sur-Loire  do  not  go  to  the  theater — it 
isn't  considered  good  form — still  under  certain 
circumstances,  for  instance,  in  a  fortnight  a 
representation  will  be  given  for  the  benefit  of 
the  wounded — organized  by  the  Barnes  de 
France — every  one  will  go." 

"  And  will  the  plays  be  unobjectionable  ?" 

"Oh!  yes;  some  opera  comique  or  other; 
some  solos  also;  and  I  am  sure  that  Lise 
Kenaud  will  be  quite  often  on  the  programme, 
for  she  represents  the  best  that  the  theater 
affords." 

"  You  are  not  drinking,  Monsieur  Sylvestre," 
said  Bijou. 

She  went  up  to  the  tray  that  had  meanwhile 
been  brought  in,  and  proceeded  to  wait  upon 
the  young  man  herself,  gracefully  handing 
him  a  glass  bedewed  with  pearly  drops,  caused 
by  the  contact  of  the  icy  liquid  within,  say- 
ing: 

"Perhaps  you  are  still  too  warm  to  drink 
it.     This  lemonade  is  so  very  cold." 

He  took  the  glass  with  a  hand  that  trembled 
a  little,  and  stood,  with  arm  outstretched  and 
half-open  mouth,  gazing  at  Bijou  in  passionate 
admiration,  while  she  remarked  smilingly; 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  177 

"So,  Monsieur  Sylvestre,  you've  gone  off 
again." 

The  color  deepened  in  the  young  man's  rosy 
cheeks;  he  at  once  swallowed  the  contents  of 
the  glass  and  hurrying  to  the  piano  exclaimed: 

"  Lot  us  begin,  mademoiselle — let  us  begin." 

And  he  ran  over  the  very  brief  air  of  the 
romance,  hesitating  here  and  there,  as  if  his 
fingers  refused  to  act.  It  was  so  apparent 
that  Denyse  asked: 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  Are  you 
not  feeling  well  to-day  ?" 

'■'■Moil  Bleu,  mademoiselle,  1 — it  is  so  hot." 

As  she  was  rather  near-sighted,  and  never 
used  a  lorgnette,  she  leaned  over  him  to  read 
the  notes,  and  at  times  her  figure  lightly 
touched  the  musician's  hair;  this  increased 
his  agitation  and  caused  his  clammy  fingers  to 
slide  off  the  keys,  while  Bijou  repeated  in 
surprise: 

"  Positively,  you  are  not  well." 

"1  beg  your  pardon,  mademoiselle,  I — I — 
don't  know  what  is  the  matter  with  me." 

"  Nor  do  I,"  said  she  laughingly. 

And  as  he  was  leaving  the  piano  she  made 
him  sit  down  again,  saying: 

"No!  if  you  will  be  so  kind,  I  should  like  to 
try  two  or  three  other  old  songs." 

And  she  began  again,  leaning  over  so  as 
to  see  better,  while  the  unfortunate  youth 
followed  her  to  the  best  of  his  ability. 


178  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  When  the  hour  was  up,  Bijou  went  in  her 
room  to  get  her  hat,  and  came  back  to  put  it 
on  before  the  glass  in  the  little  salon.  And 
while  Monsieur  Sylvestre,  instead  of  putting 
his  violin  back  in  the  case,  stood  watching  her 
rnising  her  arms,  and  curving  her  rounded 
waist  in  graceful  motion3,  she  said  to  him: 

"  You  must  hurry — we  are  going  to  take 
you  with  us  to  Pont-snr-Loire,  or  rather  Mon- 
sieur de  Clagny  is  going  to  take  you  on  his 
coach." 

Seeing  that  he  did  not  understand,  she  con- 
tinued: 

"On  a  large  carriage  that  holds  a  great 
many  people." 

"And  are  you  going,  too?"  he  asked,  in  a 
dazed  way. 

"  Yes,  Monsieur  Sylvestre,  I  am  going  too." 

He  had  taken  out  of  his  box  a  bouquet  of 
myosotis  and  hedge-roses,  now  faded  and 
drooping,  and  timidly  presented  it  to  Bijou. 

"On  my  way  here,  mademoiselle,  I — I — 
« took  the  liberty  of  gathering  these  flowers 
f  for  you." 

She  took  them,  and  after  having  deeply  in- 
haled their  perfume,  she  placed  them  in  her 
belt,  saying: 

"  I  thank  you  for  having  thought  of  me." 

He  went  downstairs,  following  Bijou  step 
by  step,  happy,  and  forgetful  of  his  misery. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP,  I79 

And  when  he  appeared  trotting  behind  her, 
his  violin  case  in  his  hand,  Monsieur  de 
Claguy  said  to  Jean  de  Blaye: 

"  It  is  quite  true  that  the  musician  has  a 
good  head." 

The  coach  was  just  at  the  door  when  the 
marchioness  called  out: 

"  Bijou,  I  have  a  message  to  give  you.  Will 
you  go  to  Pelleriu,  the  publisher,  and  ask  him 
for —    But,  no,  send  Pierrot  to  me  instead." 

"Pierrot,"  said  Denyse,  coming  back  into 
the  vestibule,  "grandmother  is  asking  for  you." 

"  I  bet  it's  to  do  some  shopping,"  said  the 
boy,  making  a  face,  ' '  and  shopping's  not  my 
forte." 

And  while  Bijou  and  the  others  were  climb- 
ing up    on    the    coach,  he  went  off    to  find 
Madame  de  Bracieux. 
.  "Were  you  calling  me,  aunt ?" 

"Yes,  Will  you  go  to  Pellerin's?  Do  you 
know  who  Pellerin  is  ?" 

"  The  publisher?" 

"  Yes.  Will  you  ask  him  to  give  you,  for  me, 
one  of  Dumas'  novels,  that  which  is  called  "  Le 
Btitard  de  Mauleon  ?''  Why  do  you  look  at  me 
like  that  ?" 

"Because  I  have  never  seen  you  read  any 
novels,  and " 

"  You  won't  see  me  read  this  ouo  either.  It 
is  for  the  cure,  to  whom  I  have   promised  it, 


180  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

He  adores  Dumas,  and  he  hasn't  read  "  Le 
Batard  de  Mauleon."  Will  you  be  sure  to  re- 
member the  title  ?" 

"Yes,  aunt." 

"Are  you  quite  sure?  Don't  you  want  me 
to  write  it  down  for  you  ?" 

"It  isn't  worth  while." 

"  You  may  forget  it." 

"No  danger." 

He  rushed,  head  foremost,  on  to  the  coach, 
crushed  several  feet,  nearly  demolished 
Monsieur  Sylvestre's  violin  case,  and  excused 
himself,  saying: 

"Ah!  Mon  Dieu!  I've  smashed  the  little 
coffin." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  181 


XI. 

Always  up  the  first,  Bijou  went  downstairs 
about  seven  o'clock,  and  as  mistress  of  the 
mansion  made  a  tour  of  inspection  through 
the  butler's  pantry  and  the  dairy. 

With  the  exception  of  Pierrot,  whom  she 
sometimes  encountered  in  the  corridors,  his 
eyes  swollen  with  sleep,  she  never  met  any 
one.  She  was  then  greatly  astonished  on  this 
morning  to  run  against  Monsieur  de  Eueille, 
who  was  leaving  the  library,  with  a  book  in 
his  hand.  Of  all  the  inmates  of  Bracieux,  he 
was  the  laziest;  so  she  laughingly  inquired: 

"What!  have  you  had  enough  sleep  al- 
ready 1" 

"  I  haven't  had  any  as  yet." 

"  Oh  !  nonsense." 

"Yes,  it  is  perfectly  true;  and  as  I  had 
read  all  the  old  books  upstairs,  I  came  down 
to  get  another,  to  help  me  through  the  night." 

Bijou  pointed  to  the  sun  which  was  stream- 
ing through  the  open  window. 

"  The  night  ?"  she  exclaimed. 

"Oh,  as  far  as  I  am  concerned,  except  in 
case  of  going  shooting  or  of  setting  out  on  a 


182  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

journey,  myniglit  lasts  up  to  ten  o'clock  in  tlio 
morning,  at  the  very  least." 

"  And  are  you  going  baek  to  bed  ?" 

"  This  very  moment." 

"But  that's  idiotie." 

"  On  the  contrary,  it's  most  sensible.  Still 
more  so  when  one  is  not  in  a  good  humor,  for 
the  best  thing  to  do  under  such  circumstances 
is  to  bury  oneself  under  the  bedclothes." 

"Aren't  you  in  a  good  humor  ?" 

"No." 

"And  why  not?" 

Paul  de  Rueille  hesitated  for  a  moment,  and 
then  replied: 

"  T  really  don't  know." 

"To  be  sure, "said  Bijou,  laughing,  "you 
weren't  particularly  amiable  yesterday,  during 
our  drive  to  Pont-sur-Loirc." 

"  That  was  all  your  fault." 

"My  fault!  mine?" 

"  Yes,  yours." 

"  But  what  do  you  mean?" 

"  "Well,  I'll  tell  you  if  you  wish  to  hear." 

"I  do  wish  to  hear,  but  not  now,  because 
they  are  expecting  me  at  the  dairy." 

"  "Who  is  expecting  you  ?"  he  inquired,  with 
an  anxious  air: 

"The  milk-woman." 

"  Go  at  once  then  if  that  is  the  case.  I 
wouldn't  think  of  making  the  milk-woman 
wait  on  my  account." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  183 

"  You  ought  to  come  and  see  the  cheeses," 
suggested  Deuyse. 

"  That  would  be  very  exciting.  No  !  really, 
but  aren't  you  afraid  that  I  might  find  it  too 
amusing  ?  tell  me,  little  Bijou." 

' '  You  would  find  it  quite  as  amusing  as 
lying  in  bed  re-reading  some  musty  old  book 
that  you  must  know  by  heart,  I'm  quite  sure. 
There  is  nothing  in  the  library  but  classics,  or 
old  fossils  of  tomes.  Since  I  came  here  there 
have  been  no  new  books,  either  from  the  Rue 
de  rUniversifs,  nor  from  Paris;  grandmother 
is  so  afraid  that  I  may  peep  inside  of  one,  and 
she  is  quite  wrong  in  entertaining  such  fears, 
for  I  would  never  dream  of  opening  a  book 
that  I  had  been  forbidden  to  read — never." 

"Grandmother  is  only  afraid  that  you  would 
do  what  any  other  young  girl  would  be  likely 
to  do.  You  are  so  surprising  an  exception, 
Bijou." 

"Yes,  I  am  an  exception,  an  angel,  any- 
thing you  please;  but  either  come  with  me,  or 
let  me  go,  will  you  ?  I  don't  like  to  keep  peo- 
ple waiting. " 

Monsieur  de  Rueille  laid  his  book  down  on 
a  console  and  said: 

'■'■  Mon  Dieu!  I'd  like  to  go  with  you  very 
much." 

Then  he  proceeded  to  follow  her,  without 
saying  anything,  while  Bijou  walked  with  a 


184  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

short,  quick,  springing  step  in  front  of  him. 
She  was  so  charming  going  about  among  the 
largo  pails  full  of  milk,  with  her  straw  hat, 
covered  with  lace,  perched  on  one  side  of  her 
blond  head,  and  wuth  her  little  pink  batiste 
wrapper  caught  up  very  high  with  a  largo 
silver  pin. 

After  she  had  examined,  ordered,  and  dis- 
posed of  everything,  without  paying  any  more 
attention  to  her  cousin  than  if  he  had  never 
existed,  then  only  did  she  turn  toward  him, 
and  smilingly  observe: 

"And  now,  if  you  wish,  we  will  go  and 
take  a  walk.  I  am  at  your  disposal."  And 
turning  into  one  of  the  paths  that  led  to  the 
avenues,  she  added:  "I  am  listening." 

"  You  are  listening  ?  What  do  you  wish  me 
to  tell  you  ?" 

"I  thought  you  wished  to  tell  me  why  you 
were  in  such  a  bad  humor  yesterday;  you  were 
saying  that  it  was  all  my  fault." 

"  Because,"  replied  he,  with  embarrassment, 
"  you  were — in  fact,  your  behavior,  your  way 
of  acting,  was  not  at  all  what  it  usually  is, 
nor  what  it  ought  to  be!" 

"  Ah!  what  did  I  do  then  ?" 

"Why,  in  the  first  place,  you  insisted,  so 
strangely,  upon  Bernes  getting  up  on  the 
coach  with  us,  when  we  met  him.  Why  did 
you  make  such  a  point  of  it  ?" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  185 

"  Ttame!  when  one  meets  a  man  on  foot, 
a  mile  or  so  away  from  the  place  where  one  is 
going  oneself,  it  seems  quite  natural  to  me  to 
offer  to  take  him  there.  In  fact,  it  seems  to  me 
that  it  would  be  odd  to  do  otherwise." 

"  Agreed ;  but  then  it  was  Monsieur  de 
Clagny's  place  to  offer  him  a  seat  on  his  coach." 

"He  didn't  think  of  it." 

"  Or  rather  he  didn't  care  to!  You  forced 
him  to  do  so." 

"Come  now!  he  adores  Monsieur  de  Bernes; 
he  spent  half  an  hour  the  other  day  in  singing 
his  praises  to  me  in  every  key." 

"Ah!  that  is  probably  what  made  you  so 
amiable  to  him." 

"  "Was  I  so  amiable  ?" 

"Certainly!  ordinarily  you  don't  pay  the 
slightest  attention  to  little  Bernes,  whereas 
yesterday  you  had  only  eyes  for  him." 

"  I  wasn't  aware  of  it." 

"  Indeed!  Then  you  were  the  only  one  who 
was  not  conscious  of  it — so  much  so  that  I 
asked  myself  if  you  weren't  doing  it  on  pur- 
pose to  torment  me." 

Bijou  raised  her  beautiful  luminous  eyes  to 
Monsieur  de  Rueille's  face  and  regarding  him 
earnestly  exclaimed: 

"To  torment  you?  and  pray  how  could  I 
torment  you  by  being  amiable  to  Monsieur 
de  Bernes  ?" 


186  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

r 
"  IIow  ?"    murmured  Monsieur  do   Pwueille, 

greatly  embarmssod.  "  Why  I  have  just  told 
you — I  am  not — we  are  not  accustomed  to  see- 
ing you  make  such  efforts — particularly  where 
a  young  man  is  concerned.  Yes,  it  is  quite 
true,  I  was  amazed,  and  I  haven't  got  over  it 
yet." 

"  "Well,  all  I  can  say  is,  I  am  sorry  that  I 
should  have  annoyed  you."  said  she  sweetly. 
"Yes,  I  assure  you,  you  know,  I  have  never 
noticed  Monsieur  de  Bernfis  particularly,  and  I 
wished  to  see  if  all  the  fine  things  that  Monsieur 
de  Clagny  had  said  to  me  about  him  were  true; 
so  then  I  gave  him  my  attention.  Will  you  for- 
give me  V 

Without  answering  Monsieur  de  Eueillo  re- 
sumed: 

"  Your  manner,  where  Clagny  is  concerned, 
is  also  objectionable.  He  is  old,  of  course,  but 
still  he  isn't  so  decrepit  as  to  authorize  such 
behavior." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  sucli  behavior  '  ?" 

"  Sometimes  you  seem  to  be  lost  in  admira- 
tion before  him,  and  sometimes  you  coax  him 
iu  an  absurd  way,  as  you  did  yesterday." 

"Yesterday?  did  I  coax  Monsieur  de  Clagny  ? 
did  I  ?" 

"You  did!" 

"  But  what  was  it  about  ?" 

"  When  you  were  trying  your  best  to  have 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  187 

him  drive  the  coach  through  Rue  Rabelais — and 
heaven  knows  why,  I'm  sure;  it's  the  dirticit 
street  there  is,  without  taking  into  considera- 
tion that  you  might  have  broken  all  our  necks 
— yes,  indeed  !  It  was  extremely  dangerous, 
this  idea  of  yours;  even  little  Bernes,  who  is 
one  of  the  most  imprudent  people  I  know  of, 
tried  to  dissuade  you  from  going  through  it." 

Between  Bijou's  lashes  stole  the  strange 
little  light  that  sometimes  illumined  her  eyes, 
and  smilingly  she  said: 

"  It's  true  ;  Monsieur  de  Bernes  was  furious 
because  he  could  not  prevent  us  fi'om  going 
through  Rue  Rabelais,  and  one  would  have  said 
that  he  was  afraid  of  something." 

"  He  was  afraid  of  being  smashed  to  pieces, 
parbleu  ! — like  myself — like  the  abbe — like 
Pierrot,  even — and  I  can't  understand  how 
that  old  fool  of  a  father  Clagny  yielded  to 
your  caprice — for  he  was  responsible  for  little 
Dubuisson,  for  Pierrot,  and  for  you,  to  say 
nothing  about  the  rest  of  us. " 

"  Have  you  finished  scolding  me  ?" 

"  I'm  not  scolding  you." 

"Ah!  j)ar  exemple  !  let  us  make  up,  will 
you  ?" 

Then,  standing  on  her  toes,  and  putting  up 
her  fresh  little  mouth,  she  exclaimed: 

"  Kiss  me !" 

He  drew  back  quickly. 


188  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Oh!"  said  Bijou,  in  sorrowful  surprise. 
"  Oti,  then  you  don't  wish  to  ?" 

Ill  at  ease,  and  at  a  loss  for  words,  he 
replied : 

"I  don't  wish  to— I  don't  wish  to — not  here; 
it  would  be  absurd.  I  can't  understand  why 
you  don't  see  how  absurd  it  would  be." 

Shaking  her  fluffy  head,  so  that  the  little 
curls  flew  back  from  her  forehead,  she  an- 
swered very  gently: 

' '  No,  I  don't  think  it  would  be  in  the  least 
absurd." 

Then,  instead  of  continuing  her  walk,  she 
turned  back  and  went  in  without  saying  any- 
thing more. 

On  reaching  his  room  Monsieur  de  Rueille 
found  his  wife  awaiting  him  there,  reading  a 
letter  that  she  handed  to  him. 

"  Here  is  a  letter  that  I  have  just  received 
from  Dr.  Brice,"  she  observed;  "  I  thought 
that  Marcel  had  not  been  very  well  for  some 
time  past." 

"Not  very  well,  Marcel!  that  child  who 
eats  and  drinks  more  than  I  do,  who  sleeps 
like  a  top,  and  grows  like  a  mushroom.  Ah! 
that's  a  pretty  good  joke!  and  what  disease 
has  the  excellent  Brice  discovered  ? " 

"None  at  all." 

"  That's  a  blessing!" 

♦*  But  he  has  prescribed  sea  air." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  1^9 

"  Sea  air!  for  this  little  chap  who  is  so 
overflowing  with  health  as  to  be  almost  un- 
bearable ?" 

"  See  what  he  says." 

"  Well,  let  us  see  what  he  says,"  murmured 
Monsieur  de  Rueille.  And  with  an  air  of  res- 
ignation he  began  to  read  the  lengthy  letter  in 
which  the  doctor  prescribed  sea  air  for  the  little 
nervous  troubles  that  the  child  was  experi- 
encing. 

Then  he  repeated  sarcastically: 

"  So  Marcel  has  nervous  troubles,  and  for 
these  troubles,  which  no  one  but  yourself  per- 
ceives, we  are  to  leave  Bracieux,  where  the 
child  is  expanding  in  bracing  air — his  native 
air  in  fact — and  we  are  to  go  and  settle  down 
on  some  stupid  beach.  Ah,  no!  sometimes 
you  have  the  most  uufortunate  ideas." 

Still  irritated  by  his  conversation  with  Bijou, 
and  disturbed  at  the  idea  of  not  seeing  her 
any  more,  he  spoke  ^in  a  harsh,  dry  tone,  and 
tried  to  laugh,  but  his  laugh  had  a  false 
ring. 

Bertrade  regarded  him  attentively. 

"I  didn't  wish,"  said  she  gently,  "to  tell 
you  the  truth  all  at  once.  I  hoped  that  you 
would  guess  it.  No  ? — haven't  you  any  idea 
of  it  ?" 

"No,  not  the  slightest,"  he  replied,  vaguely 
anxious. 


190  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Well,  you  were  right  just  now.  Not  only 
Marcel,  but  his  brothers  as  well,  are  better  off 
at  Bracieux  than  elsewhere,  for  he  is  not  ill." 

As  Monsieur  de  Rueille  made  a  gesture  of 
surprise,  she  continued  gently: 

"It  is  his  father  who  is  ill,  who  requires 
change  of  air,  and  whom  it  will  benefit." 

"  Indeed!  I  don't  know  what  you  mean,"  he 
murmured. 

"  I  mean  to  say,"  she  replied  with  precision, 
"  that  you  must  leave  Bracieux  for  some  time. 
Do  you  wish  me  to  tell  you  why  ?" 

"I  do." 

"You  are  wrong!  You  know  that  I  have 
never  concerned  myself  about  what  you  may 
or  may  not  have  done. " 

"  I  know  that  you  have  always  been  a  kind 
and  indulgent  wife,"  said  he,  with  conviction; 
"and  I  am  very  grateful." 

"  There  is  no  occasion  for  it.  I  deserve  no* 
particular  thanks,  and  I  assure  you  that  I  am 
speaking  without  bitterness,  or  rancor,  and 
that  I  should  never  have  said  anything  about 
it  if  I  did  not  now  consider  you  very  impru- 
dent. I  know  vei'y  well  that  you  are  an  honor- 
able man,  and  that  Bijou  is  in  no  danger,  but 
I  also  know  how  captivating  she  is,  and  I  can 
see  that,  after  poor  little  Giraud,  you  are  the 
one  who  is  most  seriously  affected  by  her 
charms." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  101 

"  Well,  it  is  true  I  am  affected — but,  as 
you  yourself  say,  there  is  no  danger,  and 
whether  I  go  or  stay  will  make  no  difference." 

"Yes,  by  staying  you  will  simply  render 
yourself  ridiculous,  and  probably  unhappy.  I 
speak  to  you  as  a  friend;  believe  me,  it  would 
be  better  for  us  to  go  away." 

"  But  when  we  come  back,  in  two  months — 
for  we  must  come  back  in  two  months  at  the 
latest — things  will  be  in  exactly  the  same  con- 
dition." 

"  No,  it  will  be  quite  different,"  she  replied 
carelessly;  "in  two  mouths  she  will  be  married, 
or  very  nearly. " 

"Married!"  said  Monsieur  de  Rueille, 
amazed.  "Married!  is  Jean  going  to  marry 
her  ?" 

"Why,  no;  Jean  isn't  going  to  marry  her; 
he  is  another  person  who  would  do  well  to 
leave  here." 

"  Then,  if  it  isn't  Jean  I  can't  see — I  don't 
suppose  it  can  be  Henry  ?" 

"No.  Henry  perfectly  understands  that 
with  his  means  he  cannot  marry  Bijou." 

"  Then  who  is  it  ?    Who  can  it  be  ?" 

"Why  no  one  in  particular." 

"  You  spoke,  on  the  contrary,  as  if  you  were 
asserting  a  positive  fact.  You  said  '  In  two 
months  she  will  be  married,  or  very  nearly.' 
What  did  you  mean  by  that  ?  why  won't  you 


192  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

tell  me  ?  have  you  been  forbidden  to  mention 
it  ?  was  it  told  you  in  confidence  ?" 

"  No,  it  is  merely  a  supposition  on  my  part, 
I  assure  you,  that  is  all." 

"And  you  will  not  tell  me  what  this  sup- 
position is  ?" 

"No." 

After  a  moment's  silence  she  resumed: 

"  I  showed  grandmother  the  doctor's  letter. 
Our  going  away  makes  her  feel  badly;  she 
adores  the  children;  and  she  likes  Bracieux  to 
be  full  of  people. " 

"And  so  she  was  taken  in  by  Marcel's 
nervous  troubles,  grandmother?  That  sur- 
prises me,  she  who  is  so  clever  ?" 

"Jf  she  weren't  'taken  in,'  as  you  express 
it,  at  least  she  let  me  think  so.  A  tout  a 
Vheun      I  am  going  to  dress  for  breakfast." 

Monsinir  de  Rueille  api>roached  his  wife 
and  said  >   nidly: 

"  You  aio    ot  angry  with  me?" 

"  I  ?  And  A.  ly  should  I  be  angry  with  you 
for  something  that  you  couldn't  help  ?  You 
are  in  the  same  condition  as  Jean;  as  Mon- 
sieur Giraud;  as  Henry;  as  the  professor  of 
accompaniments;  as  Pierrot;  as  well  as  of  all 
those  of  whom  we  chance  to  be  ignorant, 
without  speaking  of  the  abbe,  who  nowadays 
always  appears  in  Bijou's  company." 

"Ohl" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  193 

"It  is  perfectly  true;  only  he  is  unconscious. 
He  feels,  without  knowing  how  or  why.  the 
charm  that  all  experience  who  approach  Bijou. 
I  am  very  sure  that  he,  too,  will  be  vexed  at 
our  departure  without  being  able  to  exactly 
explain  the  cause  of  his  vexation.  Hark!  the 
bell  is  ringing.     I  shan't  be  ready.    Go  away." 

"Pierrot,"  demanded  the  marchioness  after 
breakfast,  when  they  were  all  assembled  in 
the  hall,  "  why  didn't  you  give  me  my  book 
yesterday  ?" 

Pierrot,  who  was  talking  with  Bijou,  turned 
around,  bewildered: 

"What  book,  aunt?" 

"  Dumas'  novel,  for  the  cure." 

"Ah!  hon!  I  had  forgotten  all  about  it." 

"Did  you  forget  my  message  ?" 

"Of  course  not — only  Pellerin  didut  have 
it." 

"Oh!  reUlly — why  he  always  h£  jvery  thing 
one  wants." 

"  Ben  !  but  he  didn't  have  that,  and  what  is 
more  he  didn't  seem  to  know  anything  about 
the  book." 

"What!  really?" 

"Why,  yes.  And  he's  an  obstinate  brute. 
He  positively  refused  to  admit  that  it  was  by 
father — Machin —    I've  forgotten  already." 

"Dumas." 

"  Dumas — yes,  that's  it,  and  he  kept  On  say- 


194  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

ing  all  tlio  time:  'T  know  my  Dumas  pretty 
well,  and  that  book  was  never  by  him.'  Still 
he  promised  me  to  search  for  it  all  the  same 
and  to  send  it  if  he  found  it." 

"Here,"  said  Monsieur  de  Rueille,  who 
had  interviewed  a  messenger  while  they  were 
at  breakfast,  "here  is  a  letter  from  your 
bookseller,  grandmother.  Of  course  he  wasn't 
able  to  find  it." 

"  Open  it,  Paul,  will  you  ?" 

He  unfolded  the  letter  and  read: 

"Madame  la  Marquise:  It  is  impossible  to  find 
the  book  that  monsieur  your  nephew  asked  for. 
Desirous  of  pleasing  you,  we  have  instituted  a 
search  in  th  shops  of  our  principal  confreres, 
and  have  even  telegraphed  to  Paris;  but  the  an- 
swer is  that '  Le  Baton  de  Monsieur  Molard''  is 
not  nor  has  ever  been  in  any  bookstore." 

"  ie  Baton  de  Ilonsiettr  Molard  ?"  inquired 
the  marr  oness,  who  didn't  understand, 
"what^     jarth  is  that  ?" 

Then  suddenly  she  exclaimed  in  amaze- 
ment: 

"Ah!  '  Le  Baton  de  Moyisieur  Molard''  i^ 
"Le  Batard  de  Mauleon"  in  Pierrot's  language. 
I  was  right  when  I  wanted  to  write  down  the 
title,  but  he  didn't  wish  me  to." 

Monsieur  de  Jonzac  raised  his  eyes  to  the 
ceiling  with  a  look  of  despair,  and  exclaimed, 
half  in  jest  and  half  in  earnest: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  I95 

"He  is  incorrigible,  that  creature." 

Blushing  deeply.  Pierrot  replied,  with  vexa- 
tion: 

'"  I  did  my  best,  and  besides  I  hardly  knew 
what  I  was  about  yesterday.  We  nearly  upset 
when  we  were  going  into  Pont-sur-Loire." 

"Upset?"  demanded  Madame  de  Bracieux, 
"  upset  ? — what  do  you  mean  by  that  ?" 

"  Because  Bijou  conceived  the  absurd  idea 
of  driving  through  Rue  Rabelais  on  the  coach, 
and  Monsieur  de  Clagny  humored  her  by  doing 
it,  the  old  fool." 

"Eh!  Za .'"  said  the  marchioness,  "please 
speak  more  respectfully  of  my  old  friend 
Clagny." 

"He's  very  light-headed  for  his  age,  your 
old  friend.  He  might  have  killed  us  all — 
without  considering  the  row  that  we  raised  in 
Rue  Rabelais.  The  coach  scraped  the  side- 
walks; the  small  boys  ran  und*^'  the  horses; 
and  the  sound  of  the  horn  bro  .^tht  all  the 
girls  to  the  windows,  and  made  them  scream; 
but  that  wasn't  so  bad,  for  some  of  them 
were  quite  pretty— S^pas  Paul  ?" 

As  Monsieur  de  Rueille,  with  preoccupied 
air,  made  no  reply,  he  turned  toward  the 
abbe. 

"  8''pas,  Monsieur  I'Abbe  ?" 

The  Abbe  Courteil  answered  in  all  sincerity: 

"  I  don't  know.     I  didn't  notice," 


196  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

But  Pierrot  wouldn't  acknowledge  himself 
beaten: 

"J5e;i/  Bijou  noticed  them  then,  no  mis- 
take about  that,  for  didn't  she  stare  at  them 
though,  with  all  her  eyes." 

"  I?"  said  Bijou,  her  delicate  face  suddenly 
flushing,  "  I  ? — why,  you  are  dreaming.  I  saw 
nothing.     I  was  too  much  afraid." 

"Afraid  of  what?"  asked  the  marchioness. 

**  Why,  of  upsetting,  grandmother.  Pierrot 
was  right.     We  nearly  upset." 

"  He  was  also  right  when  he  said  that  your 
idea  of  driving  through  that  miserable  little 
street,  in  a  coach  and  four,  was  an  absurd 
one.  How  did  you  ever  come  to  have  such 
an  idea  ?" 

Bijou  regarded  Jeanne  Dubuisson,  who, 
with  flushed  face  also,  and  eyes  fixed  on  the 
ground,  was  listening  to  the  discussion  with- 
out taking  any  part  in  it,  and  then  replied: 

'^'^  Hon  Dieu  !  I  really  don't  remember.  I 
think  that  Monsieur  de  Clagny  was  telling  us 
that  he  drove  his  horses  without  a  curb;  that 
he  could  turn  them  on  a  plate;  then  as  the 
Rue  Rabelais  was  rather  narrow  and  winding 
I  said:  '  I  don't  believe  that  you  can  drive 
through  Rue  Rabelais.' " 

"  That  wasn't  what  you  said  at  all,"  protested 
Pierrot.  "This  is  what  you  said:  'Let  us  drive 
through  Rue  Rabelais,  I  should  like  so  much  to 


BIJOU'S  COUKTSHIP.  19? 

see  it,'  and  as  he  hesitated— for  I  must  give 
him  that  much  credit — you  insisted  with  all 
your  might." 

"  But,"  said  Monsieur  de  Jonzac,  observing 
that  Bijou  appeared  irritated,  "what  object  do 
you  suppose  your  cousjn  could  have  had  in 
driving  there,  rather  than  elsewhere?" 

"I.  can't  imagine,"  replied  Pierrot,  per- 
plexed. Then,  as  a  new  idea  suddenly  seized 
him,  he  exclaimed: 

"  Well,  there  was  one  person  there  whom  it 
didn't  seem  to  please,  and  that  was  Monsieur 
de  Bernfts.  I'm  sure  I  don't  know  why,  but 
he  looked  perfectly  tuvions—iSeig7ieiir/  how  he 
did  look!" 

Henry  de  Bracieux  burst  out  laughing  and 
said: 

"  I  know  very  well  why  he  was  furious,— 
poor  Bernfes!  he  was  afraid  of  being   scolded." 

"Scolded?"  asked  Bijou  ingenuously,  her 
liquid  eyes  opening  wide  in  surprise,  while 
little  Miss  Dubuisson's  pretty  face,  usually  so 
placid,  again  grew  red.     "  Scolded,  but  why?" 

And  as  the  silence  deepened,  and  grew  em- 
barrassing, she  then  suggested: 

"Jeanne,  would  you  like  to  take  a  walk  ?" 

"  I  am  going  with  you,"  declared  Pierrot. 

But  Bijou  pushed  him  away,  saying: 

"No,  we  would  rather  be  by  ourselves. 
You  would  only  bother  us." 


198  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

And  going  down  the  front  steps,  she  said  to 
Jeanne,  who  was  following,  somewhat  discom- 
fited: 

"I  know  perfectly  why  you  are  so  discon- 
certed. It  is  on  account  of  your  rememVjering 
that  story  about  an  actress,  whose  name  I 
can't  recall,  and  whom  Monsieur  de  Bernes 
knows.  As  to  me,  I  had  forgotten  all  about  it, 
so  it  didn't  disturb  me.  Don't  you  see  that  I 
was  right  when  I  told  you  that  you  did  wrong 
in  listening  to  those  stories  of  Mother  Rafut  ?" 

"  As  I  said  before,"  replied  Jeanne  pensive- 
ly, "you  are  always  right." 

After  Bijou's  departure  the  men  left  the 
drawing-room  by  degrees;  and  as  soon  as  she 
was  alone  with  Madame  de  Kueille  the  mar- 
chioness exclaimed: 

"Tell  me,  Bertrade,  why  did  Paul  look 
so  strangely  at  breakfast  ?" 

Not  caring  to  either  assent  or  prevaricate, 
the  young  woman  replied : 

"  Did  you  think  so  ?" 

"Yes,  and  you  also,  and  while  I  was  looking 
at  you  both  an  idea  occurred  to  me." 

"Well,  what  was  it?" 

"  That  my  little  Marcel  is  no  more  ill  than 
I  am,  and  that  the  letter  you  showed  me  this 
morning  is  only  a  pretext  to  take  your  hus- 
band away  from  here.     Isn't  it  so  ?" 

Too  straightforward  to  deny,  she  answered: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  199 

"It  is  true." 

"Then  you  are  jealous,  and  jealous  of 
Bijou." 

"I'm  not  jealous.  Oh!  no,  not  at  all;  but 
anxious." 

"  About  Bijou  ?" 

She  shook  her  beautiful  serious  head,  and 
replied : 

"No,  about  Paul." 

"Eeally!" 

"Yes,  I  don't  fancy  the  idea  of  his  making 
himself  utterly  ridiculous." 

"And  did  you  really  think,  my  poorBer- 
trade,  that  I  hadn't  observed  for  some  time  past 
that  your  husband  was  smitten  with  Bijou, 
like  all  the  others  ?  for  they  all  of  them  are. 
And  I  have  also  remarked  of  late  that  even 
your  abbe  had  lost  some  of  his  fine  indiffer- 
ence.   Don't  you  think  so  ?" 

"  It  is  quite  possible." 

"iV'es^  ce  pas'  I  am  sure  that  he  lives 
a  little  less  beatifically  in  the  peace  of  the 
Lord." 

"  And  the  fact  doesn't  displease  you,  grand- 
mother, now  confess." 

"  Ah!  you  take  a  more  serious  view  of  things 
than  I.  In  any  case  I  consider  your  remedy 
of  taking  Paul  away  a  mistaken  one;  he  acts 
with  perfect  propriety;  no  one  suspects  the 
truth  except  ourselves." 


200  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"And  all  the  others." 
"Do  you  think  so?" 
"  I  am  sure  of  it." 

"Even  so;  that  doesn't  matter,  provided 
Bijou  doesn't  suspect  anj'thing." 

((  T 11 

"  "Why  don't  you  answer  ?" 

' '  Because  I  am  not  of  your  opinion,  grand- 
mother, and  you  don't  like  people  to  disagree 
with  you — particularly  where  Bijou  is  con- 
cerned.'' 

"  "What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?" 

"  "What  I  have  said,  no  more  and  no  less." 

"  Then,  according  to  you,  Bijou  has  ob- 
served this." 

"  From  the  first  day." 

"Well,  even  so — she  couldn't  help  it.  Be- 
sides what  danger  does  she  run  ?" 

"None." 

"  Paul  is  a  man  of  honor." 

"  Of  course — and  even  if  he  were  not.  Bijou 
would  still  be  safe  for  many  other  reasons." 

""What  are  they?" 

""Well,  in  the  first  place,  through  her  in- 
difference. Paul,  I  believe,  makes  about  as 
much  impression  upon  her  as  a  piece  of  furni- 
ture." 

"  And  then  ?" 

"  And  then— but-but  that's  all." 

"  You  said   '  for  many  other  reasons';  you 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  201 

have  only  given  me  one,  let  me  hear  the 
others." 

"  Why,  no — it  was  only  a  figure  of  speech," 
replied  Madame  de  Rueille,  with  some  em- 
barrassment." 

"Come,  now!  you  fib  badly,  my  poor  Ber- 
trade.  I  am  sure  that  I  know  what  you're 
thinking  of." 

"I'm'^ure  you  don't." 

"  Well,  now  you  will  see.  You  think  one  of 
the  reasons  why  Bijou  will  not  pay  any  atten- 
tion to  Paul  is " 

"  Because  he  is  married." 

"  Yes,  naturally;  but  I  am  confident  that 
you  also  think  that  Bijou  is  interested  in  some 
one  else." 

"Ah!  You  see.  You  don't  answer.  Yes, 
you  think  as  your  husband  does,  who  said  so 
to  me  two  days  ago;  you  fancy  that  Bijou  is 
wild  about  little  Giraud." 

"Oh!  Grandmother,  what  an  impossible 
supposition.  In  the  first  place,  Bijou  will 
never  be  wild  about  any  one." 

"  Then  what  do  you  mean?" 

"Why,  that  she  will  marry  reasonably, 
sensibly,  just  as  she  does  everything." 

"But  when  will  that  be?" 

"When  will  it  be?  Bame!  I  don't  know 
exactly.    Soon,  I  think.". 


202  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Then  you  speak  without  positive  knowl- 
edge. You  are  talking  about  an  event  in  the 
futui-e  that  is  still  vague." 

"  Ah!"  replied  Madame  de  Rueille,  with  a 
smile.  "  The  future  is  always  vague,  grand- 
mother." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  20o 


XII. 

During  the  following  week  nothing  was 
thought  of  but  the  rehearsals  of  the  little 
review  which  was  to  be  acted  on  the  day  after 
the  races.  The  La  Balues,  the  Juzencourts,  and 
Madame  de  Nezel  came  to  Bracieux  nearly  every 
day,  as  well  as  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  who  was 
wonderfully  interested  in  the  rehearsals;  he 
acted  as  prompter  whenever  Giraud,  who  had 
accepted  the  position,  chanced  to  be  otherwise 
occupied;  and  seemed  perfectly  charmed,  pro- 
vided he  could  see  Bijou  act. 

Father  Dubuisson  and  Monsieur  Spiegel  had 
been  there  to  dine  several  times,  and  Denyse, 
under  the  pretense  of  letting  him  see  more  of 
\\is fia7ice,  had  persuaded  the  young  professor  to 
take  a  small  part,  in  which,  totell  the  truth,  he 
was  execrable.     Did  Jeanne  preceive  this  ? 

She  had  grown  visibly  sadder  for  some  days 
past,  and  her  temper,  always  so  even,  now 
seemed  variable,  while  her  father,  amazed  at 
seeing  her  constantly  with  her  eyes  full  of 
tears,  and  with  no  apparent  motive,  conceived 
the  idea  that  she  was  on  the  verge  of  some 
illness. 


^04  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

The  Rueilleshad  not  left  Bracieux;  Bertrade, 
who  felt  that  everyone  was  against  her,  had 
resigned  herself  to  the  situation,  gracefully 
giving  up  her  determination,  and  patiently 
drifting  in  the  current  of  fashion,  whither, 
despite  herself,  she  had  been  drawn. 

Little  Bernes  came  in  one  evening  to  invite 
the  marchioness  and  her  guests  to  follow  a 
paper  hunt,  organized  by  the  regiment.  He 
was  to  be  the  fox,  they  were  putting  up 
splendid  obstacles,  and  he  assured  them  that 
never  before  had  the  forest  been  the  scene  of 
so  fine  a  paper  hunt  as  this  was  bound  to  be. 

Bijou  at  once  prevailed  upon  her  grand- 
mother to  let  her  follow  on  horseback.  Mon- 
sieur de  Rueille  and  Jean  de  Blaye  answering 
that  no  harm  should  befall  her.  Besides,  like 
everyone  who  rides  well,  she  was  very  prudent, 
never  exposing  herself  needlessly,  and  know- 
ing how  to  avoid  accidents. 

Madame  de  Bracieux  had  kept  Hubert  de 
Bernfes  to  dinner,  and  during  the  evening  she 
remarked  to  Bertrade,  while  looking  at  Denyse, 
who  was  talking  with  him: 

"It's  rather  singular,  but  it  seems  to  me 
that  Bijou  doesn't  treat  that  little  man  quite 
as  she  used  to.  Formerly  she  hardly  deigned 
tr  '/ow  to  him;  and  now,  one  would  almost  say 
tiiat  she  was  'gone '  on  him,  to  use  your  elegant 
language.'* 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  205 

And  the  marchioness  repeated,  as  if  puz- 
zled: 

"  Yes,  her  manner  toward  him  has  certainly 
changed." 

"And  his  manner  toward  her  has  also 
changed,"  replied  Madame  de  Reuille. 

' '  N'est  ce  pas  ?  When  he  first  used  to  come 
to  Bracieux  I  was  struck  with  his  coldness 
toward  that  love  of  a  child  whom  all  the  world 
adores.  He  was  merely  polite  to  her — that 
was  all." 

""Well,  even  now  he  isn't  very  far  gone,  but 
he  has  made  considerable  progress.  He  is 
preparing  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  pre- 
decessors." 

Looking  at  Madame  de  Rueille,  the  mar- 
chioness demanded: 

"  When  you  spoke  to  me  not  long  ago  about 
Bijou's  marriage,  did  you  have  any  particular 
idea  in  your  head  ?" 

Without  answering,  Bertrade  repeated  the 
question: 

"Any  particular  idea  in  my  head  ?" 

"Yes;  did  you  think,  for  instance,  that 
Bijou  cared  for  little  Bernes  ?" 

"I  told  you  that  day,  grandmother,  that  I 
thought  that  Bijou  didn't  care,  has  never 
cared,  and  never  will  care,  for  anybody." 

"  If  you  had  said  that  to  me  as  you  now  aay 
it  I  should  have  certainly  contradicted  you. 


*i06  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

It  is  impossible,  in  my  opinion,  to  be  more 
completelj'^  mistaken  about  her  than  you  are. 
Not  care  for  any  person  ?  Bijou  ? — when  there 
is  no  one  in  the  world  who  has  so  much  need 
of  caresses  and  affection." 

"  She  needs  caresses  and  affection.  Yes, 
that's  quite  evident;  that  is  to  say,  she  requires 
some  one  to  lavish  caresses  and  affection  upon 
her,  but  she  has  no  desire  to  reciprocate  sucb 
demonstrations. " 

' '  In  other  words,  her  nature  is  a  cold  and 
selfish  one,"  said  the  marchioness,  whose  voice 
suddenly  hardened.  "  Really,  Bertrade,  you 
are  vexed  with  Bijou  for  her  charm.  You  are 
annoyed  with  her  because  no  one  can  resist  a 
charm  so  infinite;  and  instead  of  being  angry 
with  Paul,  who  is  the  true  culprit,  you  most 
unfairly  blame  this  little  creature." 

"I  do  not  blame  Bijou  any  more  than  I 
do  Paul,  grandmother,"  replied  Madame  de 
Eueille,  very  gently.  "I  blame  them  still 
less,  as  I  do  not  believe  much  in  free  will. 
Yes,  I  understand  perfectly  that  I  shock  you 
greatly  by  such  a  confession.  You  think  that 
I  am  sacrilegious,  do  you  not  ?  And  yet,  God 
knows  that  these  reflections  to  which  I  some- 
times yield  do  but  render  me  more  indulgent.'' 

"  What  are  yon  two  conspiring  about  in  this 
little  corner  ?"  demanded  Monsieur  de  Clagny 
who  now  approached  them. 


Moiisien)    I'Al'/'i'. 


.o; 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  207 

"Nothing,"  said  Madame  de  Bracieux. 
"  We  were  ouly  looking  at  Bijou,  who  appears 
to  be  engaged  in  thawing  out  your  little  friend, 
Bernes." 

The  count  turned  around  with  anxious  air. 

"Thawing  out?  What  do  you  mean  by 
that  ?" 

'■'■Bame!  what  is  always  understood.  When 
this  young  man  dined  with  us  eight  days  ago 
his  manners  were  simply  freezing.  Well,  I 
thitik  that  a  thaw  is  now  approaching." 

"  Nonsense,"  cried  Monsieur  d  ;  Clagny,  his 
face  suddenly  clearing.  "I  had  forgotten 
that  he  had  an  attachment  or  some  one^n 
fact  so  strong  an  attachmtot  that  he  even 
■wishes  to  marry  the  girl,  wh.  h,  as  you  can 
well  imagine,  doesn't  particulai-ly  please  his 
father."  Then  he  added,  in  an  absent-minded 
way:  "  Oh  !  as  far  as  he's  concerned,  I'm  quite 
easy." 

"Easy?"  questioned  Madame  de  Bracieux, 
in  astonishment.  "  But  why  do  you  say  that  ? 
Do  you  object  to  Bijou  marrying  Monsieur  de 
Bernes,  and  if  so,  pray  why  ?" 

"  Because  she  is  so  young,"  he  murmured, 
with  some  embarrassment. 

"How  so  young?  Why,  she  is  beyond  the 
ago  when  one  usually  marries.  Bijou  will  be 
twenty-two  in  the  month  of  November." 

"Then  Hubert  is  too  young  for  her;  he's 
only  a  boy." 


208  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"I  should  certainly  prefer  to  see  her  mar- 
ried to  a  rather  more  mature  man;  but  in  case 
he  suits  her  he  has  a  good  name,  a  fine  for- 
tune.    "Why  not  he  as  well  as  another  ?" 

*'  Do  you  really  think  that  Bijou  likes  him  ?" 
asked  Monsieur  de  Clagny  anxiously. 

"I  don't  know  anything  about  it,"  said  the 
marchioness,  laughing;  "but  in  what  earthly 
way  does  it  concern  you  ?  Now,  I  can  very 
well  understand  why  it  should  worry  Jean  and 
Henry,  but  you  ?"  As  he  said  nothing,  she 
resumed:  "It  is  the  story  of  the  dog  in  the 
manger — he  can't  eat  the  hay  himself,  and  he 
doesn't  wish  any  one  else  to  eat  it.  That  is 
exactly  your  case,  my  poor  friend;  for,  in  fact, 
I  don't  suppose  you  have  any  idea  of  marrying 
Bijou  yourself,  have  you  ?" 

Though  his  face  grew  grave,  he  replied  in  a 
jesting  tone: 

"  Oh  !  as  to  me,  I  might  very  well  have  that 
idea,  you  know,  but  as  Bijou  wouldn't,  then  it 
comes  to  the  same  thing  in  the  end." 

Bijou  now  approached  them,  gliding  along 
with  her  usual  light  elastic  tread,  and  followed 
by  little  Bernfes,  who  in  tones  of  disappoint- 
ment was  asserting: 

"  I  cannot,  mademoiselle,  I  assure  you  that 
I  cannot  leave  my  comrades  on  that  day." 

"But  you  must!  N''est  cepasf  Grand- 
mother, mustn't  Monsieur  de  Bernfes  come  to 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  209 

diuner  at  Bracieux  on  the  day  of  the  paper 
huut  ?  He  is  going  to  be  the  fox,  and  the  rally 
cry,  it  appears,  will  be  at  Cinq  Tranches,  not 
more  than  a  mile  from  here." 

Madame  de  Bracieux  examined  the  little 
officer  attentively,  with  an  air  of  benevolence, 
and  replied: 

"  Why,  certainly,  he  must  come  and  dine  at 
Bracieux — it  will  give  us  all  so  much  pleas- 
ure." 

"You  are  a  thousand  times  too  good,  to 
wish  to  have  me — but  I  was  just  explaining  to 
Mademoiselle  de  Courtaix,  that  on  that  day, 
after  the  paper  hunt  that  the  regiment  offers 
to  all  the  neighborhood,  I  had  made  an 
engagement  to  dine  with  a  number  of  my 
comrades." 

Then  regarding  Bijou,  in  spite  of  himself, 
he  added: 

"  And  I  regret  it — more  than  I  can  say  I" 

"Whirling  around  on  her  high  heels,  Bijou 
had  already  flown  away  to  the  other  end  of 
the  hall.  She  was  badly  received  by  Perriot, 
who  said,  with  bitterness: 

"You've  played  us  a  mean  trick,  do  you 
know  ?" 

And  as  Monsieur  de  Jonzac,  who,  while  he 
was  playing  billiards  with  the  abbe,  was  also 
listening  with  one  ear  to  the  conversation  that 
was  going  on  about  him,  protested  against  this 


oio  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

manner  of  expressing  a  reproach,  otherwise 
sufficiently  just,  Pierrot  replied  firmly: 

"  It's  perfectly  true!  I'm  not  precisely  a 
purist,  but  that  doesn't  prevent  what  I  said 
from  being  true — nor  the  others  from  having 
said  tje  same  thing,  as  they  did  just  now.  I 
wasn't  the  only  one." 

''  Mademoiselle,"  said  Gii'aud,  who  was 
looking  out  of  the  large  bay  window,  "you 
were  saying  yesterday  that  you  liked  shooting 
stars — well,  I  have  never  seen  so  many  as  this 
evening." 

"  Indeed,"  said  Denyse,  going  over  and  sit- 
ting down  beside  the  tutor,  "  are  there  so 
many  as  all  that  ?" 

Then  leaning  over,  she  asked: 

"  What  is  that  on  the  left  ?  I  see  something 
white  on  the  terrace." 

"It  is  Mademoiselle  Dubuission  who  is 
walking  with  her  father  and  Monsieur  Spie- 
gel." 

"  Ah !  Suppose  we  go  and  join  them.  Would 
you  like  to  ?" 

Giraud  sprang  up,  delighted  to  walk  with 
Bijou  on  such  a  beautiful  starry  night,  and 
they  went  out  together. 

As  soon  as  they  were  on  the  terrace,  she 
asked: 

"  Don't  you  think  it  rather  inconsiderate, 
and  that  perhaps  we  may  annoy  them  if  we 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  JJH 

interrupt  a  family  conversation  ?  Let  us  walk 
under  tlie  chestnuts,  they  can  join  us  if  they 
wish." 

She  went  down  the  marble  steps,  and  pene- 
trated into  the  profound  gloom  of  the  group  of 
chestnut  trees.  The  young  man  followed  her, 
step  by  step,  with  a  bounding  heart,  mad  with 
joy,  but  inwardly  ill  at  ease.  They  walked  on 
for  some  time  without  saying  a  word.  After  a 
while  Bijou  exclaimed,  raising  her  head  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  sky  between  the  trees: 

"  We  won't  see  many  shooting  stars  here  !" 

Desirous  of  not  leaving  this  dark  corner, 
where  he  felt  so  near  her,  Giraud  replied: 

"  Why,  yes — one  can  see  them  just  as  well. 
Look — there  is  one — didn't  you  see  it  ?" 

"  Scarcely  !  and  not  long  enough  to  make  a 
wish." 

"  To  make  a  wish— and  for  what  ?" 

"  Oh,  no  matter  for  what !  Why,  didn't 
you  know  that  whenever  one  sees  a  shooting 
star,  one  must  make  a  wish  ?" 

"  No,  I  didn't  know  it !  and  is  it  ever  ful- 
filled ?" 

"They  say  so." 

"  Have  you  thought  of  a  wish,  mademoiselle, 
so  that  the  next  time  you  will  be  prepared  ?" 

"  Yes,  certainly,  I  have  thought  of  one,  but 
it  can  never  be  realized." 

"  Ah  !  I  don't  dare  to  ask  you." 


212  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  I  should  like  to  be  quite  another  person," 
said  she  gently.  "  Yes,  a  very  pretty  young 
girl,  in  a  humble  condition — one  who  could 
live  afar  from  the  world,  and  who  could  marry 
whom  she  pleased;,  in  short,  be  happy  in  her 
own  way,  without  regard  to  prejudices  or 
social  distinctions." 

"  Why  would  you  like  that  ?"  he  asked,  with 
a  trembling  voice. 

"  So  that  I  would  have  a  right  to  love  the 
one  who  loves  me;  that  is,  to  love  him  openly, 
without  concealment,"  and  she  added  in  a  very 
low  toue,  "  without  self-condemnation." 

She  was  walking  close  beside  him,  so  close 
that  their  shoulders  touched  at  each  step. 
Giraud,  quite  overcome,  murmured: 

"  You  say  that  as  if — as  if  you  did  like  some 
one  !" 

He  divined  that  she  had  turned  her  face  to- 
ward him,  but  she  did  not  answer.  At  that 
moment  an  owl  perched  quite  near  them 
uttered  a  mournful  and  anxious  cry  that 
frightened  Bijou.  Shej'umped  aside,  falling 
against  Giraud,  who  received  her  in  his  arras. 

And  when  her  soft  perfumed  hair  touched 
his  lips,  he  lost  his  head,  and  forgetting  all 
that  separated  him  from  the  j'oung  girl,  and 
pressing  her  madly  in  his  arms,  he  murmured : 

"Denyse!" 

She  let  him  go  on,  without  defending  her- 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  213 

self,  but  when  he  had  released  her,  in  tender, 
plaintive  tones  she  cried: 

"  Oh  !  it  was  wrong  of  you  to  do  that,  very 
wrong !" 

Then  she  hid  her  face  in  her  hands,  and  he 
could  hear  her  weeping. 

He  strove  to  speak  to  her,  and  wished  to 
kneel  down  before  her,  but  she  pushed  him 
away,  exclaiming: 

"  No  !  leave  me  !  You  must  go  so  that  the 
people  out  there  can  see  you.  I  will  return  in 
a  moment,  when  I  feel  a  little  better." 

Then  as  he  was  going  back  by  way  of  the 
terrace,  she  called  him,  saying : 

"  Not  that  way;  go  round  by  the  pool;  don't 
let  it  appear  that  you  were  coming  from 
here." 

''  Let  me  again  beg  your  pardon;  permit  me 
to  kiss  those  little  hands  that  I  adore." 

"Go  away!  go  away!"  she  replied,  as  if 
afraid  of  herself. 

Before  turning  into  the  foot-path  that  led  to 
the  pool,  Giraud  paused,  striving  to  catch  one 
last  glimpse  of  Bijou's  light  gown  amid  the  en- 
circling gloom;  and  listening,  as  he  paused, 
he  heard  her  weeping  still. 

"Is  it  you.  Bijou?"  asked  Jean  de  Blaye, 
advancing  in  the  deep  shadows.  The  young 
girl  drew  herself  up  and  exclaimed: 

"Who  is  it?" 


•Z14:  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  It  is  I — Jean.  What  ?  you  don't  even  pay 
me  the  compliment  of  knowing  my  voice. 
"What  are  are  you  doing  here,  in  the  dark  ?" 

"  I  am  taking  a  walk." 

"All  by  yourself?" 

"  I  came  out  to  walk  with  the  Dubuissons, 
but  then  I  thought  it  was  better  not  to  bother 
them,  so  I  came  here — all  by  myself,  as  you 
say." 

"  It  must  be  rather  a  change  fw'r  you,  Jiein  ? 
"What  in  the  world  can  you  find  to  do  when 
you  are  by  yourself  ?" 

"I  was  reflecting." 

"Oh!  what  a  large  word." 

"I  was  dreaming,  then,  if  that  suits  you 
any  better." 

"Ah!  indeed,  that's  something  that  I  can 
scarcely  credit.  Your  dreams  must  be  quite 
difi'erent  from  ordinary  ones." 

"But  why?" 

"Because  dreams  are^  usually  incoherent, 
disconnected,  n-regular,  and  improbable." 

"Very  well?" 

•'  "Well,  your  dreams  must  be  admirably  ad- 
justed ones,  well-weighed.  They  ought  to 
resemble  yourself." 

"  Thank  you." 

"For  what?" 

^' Dame  !  for  the  nice  things  that  you  are 
sajing  to  me." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  215 

"Oh!  they  are  not  nice,  I  know,  but  they 
are  quite  true.  Besides  I  am  not  here  to  say 
nice  things  to  you,  but  serious  ones." 

"Serious?" 

"Yes,  I  have  been  requested  to  fulfill  a 
mission  which  concerns  yourself — to  speak,  to 
the  best  of  my  ability,  in  the  name  of  one 
who  has  not  dared  to  speak  for  himself." 

"And  who  is  this  person  ?" 

"  Henry.  He  has  begged  me  to  find  out  if 
you  will  authorize  him  to  ask  grandmother  for 
your^hand." 

"  My  hand  ?  Henry  ?"  she  exclaimed  in  ac- 
cents that  expressed  amazement. 

"Jibn  Dieii  /  yes;  is  that  anything  so  ex- 
traordinary ?" 

'  ^Dame  !  yes  ;  Henry — wh_  H  nry  is  just  like 
my  brother." 

"  Well,  in  point  of  fact  he  isn't,  con- 
sequently let  us  not  regax'd  him  in  the  light  of 
a  brother,  but  in  that  of  a  suitor.  "What  is 
your  answer?" 

"  My  answer  ?  In  the  first  j^jlace,  why  does 
Henry  address  himself  to  me,  instead  of 
asking  grandmother  permission  to  speak  to  me  ? 
He  should  have  asked  'grandmother's  permis- 
sion to  speak  to  me. " 

' '  Hein  !  didn't  I  say  that  you  were  an  ad- 
mirably poised  and  correct  little  creature,  and 
all  that  it  implies  ?" 


216  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"That  is  unkind." 

"Oh!  no,  it  isn't  unkind;  on  the  contrary, 
it  is  only  embarrassing.  Tell  me  now,  was  I 
to  blame  in  speaking  to  you  first  ?  or  must  I 
readjust  matters  by  addressing  grandmother, 
who  will  then  address  you  ? — etc. ,  etc. " 

"  No,  I  will  give  my  answer  to  you." 

"Then  permit  me  to  conclude  my  little 
speech — Count  Henry  de  Bracieux,  born  on 
the  twenty-second  of  January,  1870,  has  for 
his  entire  fortune,  up  to  the  death  of  his 
grandmother,  six  hundred  thousand  francs, 
which  brings  him  in  about " 

"Oh!  it  isn't  worth  while  to  go  over  money 
matters  with  me,  for,  as  I  don't  wish  to  marry 
Henry,  it  is  quite  useless  to  tell  me  all  that." 

"Ah!  you  don't  wish  to  marry  him;  but 
why  not  ?" 

"  For  many  reasons;  and  the  best  one  is, 
that  I  know  him  too  well." 

"That  is  not  a  very  flattering  reason." 

"I  mean  exactly  what  I  have  just  said,  and 
that  is,  that  living  in  the  same  house  with 
Henry,  as  I  have  done  for  the  last  four  years, 
I  look  upon  him  as  a  brother." 

In  a  tone  that  he  endeavored  to  render  in- 
different, Jean  de  Blaye  demanded: 

"  So,  then,  I  suppose  you  also  look  upon  me 
as  a  brother  ?" 

"You!  oh,  no,  not  at  all.  You  are  at  least 
thirty-five  years  old." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  217 

"No;  thirty- three."' 

"Ah!  is  that  all.  "Well,  all  the  same,  you 
don't  seem  to  me  like  a  brother. " 

She  reflected  a  moment,  while  he  awaited 
her  reply  with  a  sort  of  vague  hope,  and  then 
she  concluded  thus: 

"You  seem  to  me  more  like  an  uncle." 

"Ah!"  said  Jean,  in  vexation,  "that  is  de- 
lightful." 

"  Does  it  displease  you  to  have  me  say  that  ?" 
said  she  gently. 

"Oh!  not  in  the  least.  It  pleases  me,  on 
the  contrary.  A  la  homie  heure  ?  With  you, 
at  least,  there  can  be  no  mistake,  and  then,  if 
one  has  any  illusions  they  are  quickly  dis- 
pelled." 

' '  Have  you  had  any  illusions  ?  "What  are 
they  ?" 

"  I  haven't  had  any." 

"  Yes,  you  have.  I  can  tell  by  your  voice. 
It  is  bitter,  cutting,  irritable.'^ 

Then  gently  pressing  his  arm,  she  asked 
coaxingly: 

"Tell  me  why  you  are  so  cross,  all  of  a 
sudden  ?" 

He  drew  back  and  replied: 

"Because  when  one  is  not  very  good,  and 
when  one  is  vexed,  then  one  becomes  dis- 
agreeable— it  is  inevitable." 

' '  And  are  you  vexed  ?" 


218  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Yes." 

"Very  much?" 

""Why,  quite  enough,  thank  you," 

"  My  poor  Jean!  things  are  not  going,  then, 
as  you  wish." 

"What  do  you  mean  ?  What  arc  you  talk- 
ing about  ?" 

"Of — but  you  know  very  well.  I  told  you 
the  other  evening." 

"What,  again,"  he  replied,  growing  more 
and  more  nervous;  "oh!  as  to  that  you  are 
crazy. " 

"What?"  said  Bijou,  "are  you  not  in  love 
with  Madame  de  Nezel  ?" 

"Madame  de  Nezel  is  a  charming  woman," 
he  murmured,  embarrassed,  "an  excellent 
friend,  whom  I  like  very  much — very  much 
indeed — but  not  in  the  way  you  imagine." 

"Ah!  so  much  the  worse.  She  is  a  widow, 
and  she  is  rich.  She  would  have  just  suited 
you.     Then  you  care  for  some  one  else  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  Some  one  whom  you  can't  marry  ?" 

"Precisely." 

".Why,  isn't  she  rich  enough  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes;  if  she  had  nothing  at  all  it  would 
be  all  the  same  to  me;  it  is  I  who  am  not  rich 
enough  for  her,  and  then  besides  she  wouldn't 
have  me." 

"You  don't  know  anything  about  it.  You 
ought  to  tell  her  that  you  like  her. " 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  219 

"Do  you  think  so?" 

"  Certainly,  one  should  always  try." 

"Well,  Bijou,  I  love  you  like  a  fool,  like 
an  unhappy  wretch  who  hopes  for  nothing  and 
who  doesn't  even  dare  to  ask  for  your  love  in 
return." 

She  stopped  short  and  said  in  heartbroken 
tones: 

"  You  love  me — you — you  ?" 

"Yes,  and  you — you  hate  me,  don't  you ?" 

"  Oh,  Jean,  how  can  you  say  such  a  thing  ? 
You  know  on  the  contrary,  that  I  like  you  very 
much — not  as  you  would  eai'e  to  have  me,  not 
as  I  should  like  to  myself,  but  very  much,  all 
the  same,  very  much  indeed!" 

She  leaned  on  his  shoulder,  compelling  him 
to  stop,  and  then  rapidly  pressing  her  hand 
over  his  eyes  exclaimed,  in  a  sori-owful  tone: 

"  You  are  crying,  and  I  am  the  cause.  Jean! 
Jean !  I  don't  want  you  to  cry,  do  you  hear  ?" 

He  took  the  little  hand  that  was  smoothing 
his  face  in  his,  and  pressed  upon  it  a  long  and 
burning  kiss;  then  as  she  clung  to  him,  he 
gently  disengaged  himself  and  walked  rapidly 
away. 


;^20  BIJOU'S  COUliTSHIP. 


XIII. 

"  Then  you  wish  to  go  away  positively,"  said 
Bijou  with  vexation  to  Jeanne  Dubuisson,  who 
was  folding  her  gowns  in  the  drawer  of  a  long 
basket  trunk. 

The  young  girl,  very  much  absorbed  in  her 
work  and  without  raising  her  head,  replied: 

"  Yes,  I  have  been  here  too  long  already;  it 
would  be  inconsiderate  for  me  to  stay  longer, 
you  understand." 

"  You  know  very  well  that  isn't  so;  besides 
it  was  almost  decided  that  you  should  sts'j  till 
Monday,  and  then  all  of  a  sudden  you  changed 
your  mind.  What  was  your  reason  for  doing 
so?" 

' '  Why,  there  wasn't  any.  What  reason  did 
you  suppose  that  I  had  V 

"If  I  knew  I  shouldn't  ask  you.  Let  me 
see — what  could  it  possibly  have  been  ?  You 
haven't  appeared  to  be  bored." 

"Oh,  Bijou,  how  could  you  even  think  of 
such  a  thing !" 

^'Baine,  it  might  have  been  the  case.  On 
the  other  hand,  you  see  almost  as  much  of 
your  fiance  as  if  you  were  at  Ponf-sur-Loire  " 

"Oh,  no!" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  221 

"Oh,  yes!  Come,  let's  count  up:  Monsieur 
Spiegel  spent  Saturday,  Sunday  and  Monday 
at  Paris;  on  Tuesday  he  came  and  dined  here 
with  Monsieur  Dubuisson;  Wednesday  he  came 
by  himself;  Thursday  he  partook  of  the  con- 
firmation breakfast — the  poor  man;  on  Friday 
he  dined  here,  and  on  each  of  these  days  we 
have  rehearsed  the  review,  either  before  or 
after  dinner,  which  proves  that  he  has  never 
left  you." 

"That  is  true,"  replied  Jeanne,  with  an 
effort;  "but  if  he  has  never  left  me,  he  has 
had  nothing  to  do  with  me." 

"  How  could  that  be  ?" 

"  How  'i  Oh,  it  is  quite  simple;  he  has  devoted 
himself  entirely  to  you;  he  has  spoken  to  no 
one  but  you." 

"Tome?" 

"  Yes,  to  you.  Come,  I  prefer  to  confess  it: 
my  Bijou,  I  am  jealous,  frightfully  jealous!" 

"Jealous  of  whom? — of  me?"  demanded 
Denyse  in  amazement: 

Mademoiselle  Dubuisson  made  a  sign  of 
affirmation.  Then,  while  the  tears  sprang  to 
her  eyes,  she  continued. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  for  saying  this  to  you, 
for  I  can  perfectly  well  see  that  I  am  giving 
you  pain;  but  it  was  better,  was  it  not,  to  tell 
the  truth  than  to  let  you  imagine  other  things. 
You  are  not  angry  with  me  ?" 


222  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  No,  not  at  all."  Then  she  added  sadly: 
"It  is  you  who  ought  to  be  vexed  with  me; 
but  you  are  mistaken,  I  assure  you.  Monsieur 
Spiegel,  who  is  very  polite,  has  paid  me  some 
attention  because  I  am  the  granddaughter  of 
my  grandmother,  in  whose  house  he  has  been 
entertained,  and  for  no  other  reason." 

"  He  has  been  attentive  to  you  for  the  same 
reason  that  every  one  else  is — because  you  are 
adorable — you  know  it  quite  well." 

"  Why  no,  I " 

"  I  might  have  known  that  he  would  be  in- 
fluenced by  your  charm,  as  every  one  is.  I 
was  a  simpleton  not  to  foresee  what  has  come 
to  pass.  I  counted  so  much  on  his  affection 
for  me.  I  thought  that  he  loved  me  as  I 
loved  him.     I  was  mistaken,  that  is  all." 

"  Then  I  shall  see  no  more  of  you  ?  You  will 
avoid  all  occasions  of  coming  near  me  ?" 

"No,  for  we  are  going  to  spend  the  day 
together  at  the  paper  hunt." 

"As  you  will  be  in  a  carriage,  and  I  on 
horseback,  I  shan't  trouble  you  much." 

Bijou  remained  silent  for  a  moment,  then 
she  inquired  anxiously: 

"At  least  you  don't  think  that  what  has 
happened  is  my  fault  ?" 

"  No,"  said  Jeanne,  "  I  only  think  that  you 
are  a  charming  girl,  and  that  I  am  an  ordinary 
one.  I  beg  of  you,  my  dear  Bijou,  don't  let 
this  worry  you." 


BIJ0U*S  COURTSHIP.  223 

"  I  shall  be  so  unhappy  not  to  see  anything 
more  of  you. " 

' '  But  you  will  see  me.  I  am  coming  back  for 
the  review  the  day  after  to-morrow;  we  will 
have  to  do  so,  as  Monsieur  Spiegel  and  I  are 
both  taking  part  in  it." 

"  Why  do  you  say  '  Monsieur  Spiegel  V  Why 
don't  you  say  Frantz,  as  you  always  used  to  do  ? 
Are  you  angry  with  him  ?" 

"•On  Saturday,"  continued  Jeanne,  without 
answering  Bijou's  question,  "we  shall  see 
each  other  at  the  races;  on  Sunday  at  the  races 
again,  and  in  the  evening  at  the  Tourville's 
ball,  so  you  see  that  we  shall  be  constantly 
together." 

"Still,"  replied  Bijou,  with  a  mournful  air, 
"  it  won't  be  at  all  the  same  as  if  you  were 
staying  here.  I  cannot  help  feeling  that  you 
are  going  away  with  some  grudge  against 
me." 

"Madame  la  Marquise  wishes  Mademoiselle 
Denyse  to  go  to  the  drawing-room,"  said  the 
maid,  who  was  standing  at  the  door. 

"  In  the  drawing-room  at  this  hour  of  the 
day  ?"  said  Bijou  in  surprise. 

"Monsieur  le  Comte  de  Clagny  is  there." 

"Ah!  very  well;  say  that  I  am  coming  at 
once." 

Then,  turning  to  Mademoiselle  Dubuisson, 
she  proposed: 


Ji24  BiJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Come  with  me." 

"  No,  I  want  to  finish  packing  my  trunk,  as 
it  must  be  sent  to  Pont-sur-Loiro  after  break- 
fast." 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  afterward  Bijou  came 
back,  jumping  for  joy  and  crying: 

"Oh!  you  don't  know!  We  are  going  to 
spend  the  evening  together." 

"Where?" 

"  Guess." 

" How  can  I  tell !  at  the  theater?" 

"  Right !     How  did  you  know  ?" 

"  Because  you  have  repeatedly  said  in  Mon- 
sieur de  Clagny's  presence  that  you  would  like 
to  go  to  this  representation  given  by  the 
Barnes  de  France.  I  suppose  he  bought  you 
a  box  ?" 

"  Two  boxes.  Yes,  just  imagine  ! — two  beau- 
tiful large  proscenium  boxes,  each  one  holding 
six.  So  we  at  once  arranged  with  your  father 
that  you  should  come.  Monsieur  Spiegel  too, 
that's  understood — because  I  forgot  to  tell  you 
— they  are  both  here,  your  father  and  Monsieur 
Spiegel.  Monsieur  de  Clagny  brought  them 
over." 

"  But,"  said  Jeanne,  "if  we  are  three  it 
will  bore  you." 

"Come,  now,  didn't  I  tell  you  that  there 
were  twelve  seats  ?  Grandmother  and  myself, 
that  makes  two — and  you  three,  that  makes 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  235 

five — that  leaves  seven  seats,  and  no  one  cares 
to  go." 

"  The  Rueille  ?» 

"Paul,  but  not  Bertrade,  that  makes  six. 
Neither  Jean  nor  Henry  are  going,  neither  is 
Uncle  Alexis,  and  Pierrot  has  been  punished. 
There  is  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  and  I  intend  to 
offer  a  seat  to  Monsieur  Giraud,  so  that  makes 
eight  altogether." 

As  Mademoiselle  Dubuisson  said  nothing, 
she  continued: 

"  Then  you  don't  care  about  spending  the 
evening  with  us — or  rather  with  me.  Are 
you  trying  to  think  of  some  excuse  ?" 

"  Why,  no.  I'm  not  trying  to  think  of  any 
— besides,  as  you  have  arranged  with  papa." 

"Yes,  it's  all  arranged.  I  have  also  asked 
Monsieur  de  Bernes,  but  he  pretends  that  he 
cannot  accept,  as  he  is  going  with  some 
friends. " 

"But  where  did  you  see  Monsieur  de 
Bernes  ?" 

"In  the  drawing-room,  just  this  minute. 
Ah!  it  is  true  you  didn't  know!  he  came  to 
bring  Monsieur  Giraud's  invitation;  Jean  had 
written  to  ask  him  for  one,  because  Monsieur 
Giraud  was  anxious  to  go;  he  has  never  seen  a 
paper  hunt,  and  as  there  is  to  be  a  breakfast 
given  by  the  oflBcers,  grandmother  is  so  par- 
ticular that  she  wouldn't  take  him  without  an 
invitation." 


226  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

' '  Then  Monsieui*  de  Bernes  is  breakfasting 
here  also  ?" 

"  No,  he  has  left;  he  is  to  be  the  fox,  and 
the  meeting  will  be  at  three  o'clock  at  the 
crossroads  du  Roy.  It  is  very  near  for  us, 
but  for  those  who  are  going  from  Pont-sur- 
Loire  it  is  quite  a  step." 

"  At  what  time  do  we  leave  ?" 

' '  The  carriages  leave  at  half-past  two,  those 
on  horseback  at  a  quarter-past  two.  Oh  I  I 
say!  I've  a  mind  to  dress  now  before  break- 
fast, so  that  I  shan't  have  to  think  about  it 
again." 

"  You  have  still  half  an  hour." 

"As  you  are  all  ready  will  you  come  and 
stay  with  me  while  I  am  dressing  ?" 

Jeanne  submissively  followed  Bijou,  who  ran 
singing  through  the  corridors. 

"You  are  always  gay,"  said  Jeanne,  "but 
this  morning  I  find  you  particularly  joyful. 
What  is  the  reason  ?" 

"  Why,  there  isn't  any.  I  am  delighted  with 
the  prospect  of  the  hunt,  the  theater — the  day 
is  fine,  the  sky  is  blue,  the  flowers  fresh,  and 
it  is  a  pleasure  to  be  alive,  but  that  is  all." 

"  Still  that  is  something." 

"Sit  down,"  said  Bijou,  pushing  Made- 
moiselle Dubuisson  into  a  large  Louis  XVI. 
bergere.  The  young  girl  seated  herself  and 
attentively  regarded  the  room  that  was  all  in 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  227 

pink.  The  walls  and  ceiling  were  hung  in 
pale  pink  cretonne,  over  which  strayed  graceful 
sprays  of  huge  white  poppies;  while  the  Louis 
XVI.  furniture  was  all  of  pink  enamel;  and 
flowers  everywhere,  in  crystal  vases  of  strange 
distorted  form;  the  atmosphere  redolent  with 
a  delightful  but  penetrating  and  uncertain 
odor,  a  sort  of  mixture  of  chypre,  of  iris,  and 
of  new-mown  hay. 

Jeanne  inhaled  the  aroma  that  she  so  much 
liked  and  asked: 

"  What  do  you  use  in  your  room  that  gives 
it  this  perfume  ?" 

Deeply  inhaling  the  air  around  her.  Bijou 
replied: 

"Do  you  observe  any  perfume?  Why,  I 
don't,  and  in  any  case  I  never  use  any." 

"Oh!"  said  Jeanne  in  surprise,  "  why  that's 
incredible.  What!  do  you  really  mean  that 
you  never  use  any  ?" 

"  Positively  never." 

Denyse  now  went  walking  up  and  down  the 
room,  engaged  in  the  process  of  investing  her 
pretty  little  person  in  divers  accompaniments 
to  her  riding  suit,  preliminary  to  donning  her 
habit.  Then  seating  herself  on  the  side  of 
the  bed,  she  proceeded  to  draw  on  her  flexible 
yellow  leather  boots,  that  admirably  defined 
her  exquisite  feet. 

While  she  was  standing  before  a. psyche, 


228  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

putting  the  finishing  touches  to  her  toilette, 
Jeanne  gazed  at  her  with  admiring  interest 
and  murmured: 

"How  beautifully  that  habit  fits  you  ?  it 
looks  as  if  you  wore  moulded  in  it;  it  is  really 
quite  perfect.  But  then  you  have  such  a 
pretty  figure." 

Denyse  w\as  trying  hard  to  push  a  pearl  pin 
into  her  white  scarf,  when  the  point  of  the  pin 
snapped  off. 

"Oh!"  said  Jeanne,  "  what  a  pity!" 

"5a7i,"  replied  Bijou,  "it  was  no  good.  Now 
if  I  win  the  bet  that  I  made  with  Monsieur  de 
Bernes,  with  choice  of  stakes,  I  sliall  ask  him 
to  give  me  a  strong  one.  And  one  that 
doesn't  cost  much,"  she  added,  laughing,  "  so 
that  it  won't  look  like  a  present." 

"Did  you  make  a  bet  with  Monsieur  de 
Bernfes  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  With  choice  of  stakes  ?" 

"Yes,  was  it  wrong  ?" 

"Wrc'g?  well,  no;  but  rather  a  strange 
thing  tj  do." 

"  Come  now!  you're  just  like  grandmother; 
she  vras  quite  scandalized." 

"  Dame!  and  what  was  your  bet  with  Mon- 
•'sieur  de  Bernes  ?" 

"  I  bet  that  there  would  be  at  least  one  ac- 
cident at  the  paper  hunt,  and  he  bet  that 
there  wouldn't  be  any  at  all." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  2'Z9 

"But it  is  very  possible," 

"  No,  it  isn't  very  possible.  There  are  al- 
ways some  accidents;  this  would  be  the  first 
hunt  without  one.  I  want  you  to  understand 
that  I  mean  even  if  it  should  only  be  a  fall — a 
harmless  little  tumble — should  any  one  fall, 
and  be  picked  up.  I  don't  mean  to  predict 
that  any  one  will  be  killed,  do  you  understand 
me  ?'■ 

" Don't  go  and  fal'l  yourself,  at  least." 

"Oh!  as  far  as  I  am  concerned," said  Bijou, 
her  eyes  shining  with  merriment,  "  there  is  no 
danger.  Patatras  has  never  been  so  firm  on 
his  feet." 

When,  at  a  quarter-past  two,  punctual  as 
ever,  Bijou  appeared  at  the  front  door,  she 
found  Henry  de  Bracieux,  Jean  de  Blaye  and 
Pierrot  there;  but  Monsieur  de  Rueille  had  not 
yet  come  down.  The  horses  who  had  already 
been  kept  waiting  for  a  minute  or  two  had 
grown  restive,  annoyed  by  the  flies.  Patatras 
alone  was  perfectly  quiet,  champing  his  bit, 
and  gazing  peacefully  about  him.   j, 

"Don't  wait  for  Paul;  he's  only  „.ist  begin- 
ning to  dress, "  said  Bertrade,  openin^'  a  win- 
dow; "he  will  join  you  later  on." 

"Would  you  like  us  to  start  now,  Bijou  ?'* 
suggested  Jean. 

"I'm  almost  inclined  to  let  you  start 
without      me,"    she      replied     hesitatingly. 


230  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

*'  Your  three  horses  are  going  on  like  mad. 
They  will  excite  Patatras,  who  i^  only  disposed 
to  be  peaceful.  Go  on  and  I  will  rejoin  you 
over  there.  Nothing  irritates  me  so  much  as 
to  ride  a  horse  that  pulls  my  arms  out  of  the 
sockets,  and  that  is  what  would  surely  happen 
if  '^  started  off  with  you. " 

"So,  then,"  demanded  Henry,  with  a  sneer, 
"you  are,  oing  to  wait  for  Paul." 

Bijou  pointed  to  the  carriages  that  were 
just  leaving  the  stable  yard,  and  said: 

"No,  I  am  going  to  escort  grandmother;  I 
prefer  to  do  that." 

"  Well,  if  you  do,"  said  Jean  de  Blaye,  "it 
will  be  sure  to  excite  your  horse. " 

"  Why,  no,  it  won't.  I  think  I  ought  to  know 
my  own  horse.  So  then  all  I  ask  of  you  is 
to  go  on  and  not  concern  yourself  about  me." 

"How  charming  you  are!"  said  Pierrot, 
turning  away,  and  going  up  to  his  pony. 
Then  addressing  the  others,  he  added,  with  an 
air  of  majesty  and  vexation: 

"  Let  us  leave  her,  as  she  doesn't  seem  to 
wish  to  go  with  us. " 

Jean,  who  was  mounting  his  horse,  replied, 
half  in  jest  and  half  in  earnest: 

"  Well,  I  should  say  there  was  nothing  else 
to  do." 

As  they  all  three  disappeared  at  the 
turn  of  the  road,  Monsieur  de  Clagny  came 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  JJ31 

out  of  the  vestibule — he  wanted  to  see  if  the 
horses  had  been  properly  harnessed — and  was 
amazed  and  surprised  to  find  Bijou  there. 

"  How  lovely  you  are  in  that  red  habit!"  said 
he,  quite  dazzled;  "  usually  red  makes  one  look 
pale,  but  as  to  you,  if  possible,  it  eveu  renders 
you  rosier."  *■ 

When  he  learned  that  the  young  <5irl  in- 
tended to  accompany  the  carriages  as  f  -  as  the 
rendezvous,  he  was  quite  happy. 

The  marchioness  now  arrived,  followed  by 
all  her  guests,  and  got  into  the  landau  with 
the  Dubuissons  and  Monsieur  Spieg^'l.  Mon- 
sieur de  Clagny  took  Madame  de  Riieille,  the 
children,  the  Ahh6  Courteil,  and  Monsieur  de 
Jonzac  on  his  coach;  as  to  Monsieur  Giraud 
he  was  so  hypnotized  by  Bijou,  who  was  wait- 
ing on  horseback,  ready  to  start,  that  he 
nearly  fell  off  the  coach  in  trying  to  gain  his 
seat. 

So  they  set  out  under  a  scorching  sun.    Mon 
sieur   de   Clagny,    much    more    interested   in 
Denyse   than  in  the   four   horses  that  he  was 
driving,  gazed  at  her  trotting  on  in   front  be- 
side the  marchioness'  carriage. 

It  was  the  first  time  that  he  had  ever  seen 
her  on  horseback,  and  she  seemed  to  him  in- 
comparably pretty  and  distinguished.  While 
he  was  thus  regarding  her  with  singular  atten- 
tion, Madame  de  Bracieux's  voice  could  be 
heard  from  the  landau: 


232  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"What  a  fearful  heat,  my  dear  Bijou!  I 
don't  like  to  see  you  out  there  in  the  sun  like 
that." 

Denyse  turned  around,  showing  a  flushed 
face,  and  replied: 

"Neither  do  I,  grandmother;  I  don't  like 
the  idea  of  it  myself." 

Then,  after  a  moment's  reflection,  she  con- 
.  aued: 

"So  whenever  we  find  Jean,  Henry,  and 
Pierrot  I  shall  leave  you. " 

"  But  do  you  think  that  we  shall  find  them  ?" 

"Oh,  surely.  They  are  following,  in  the 
woods,  almost  the  same  route  that  we  are  tak- 
ing in  the  carriage.  They  are  only  twelve  or 
fifteen  yards  from  us;  I  have  already  heard 
them.  As  soon  as  I  see  them  I  shall  leave 
you." 

Monsieur  de  Clagny  called  out  to  Bijou  in 
order  to  give  her  a  thousand  instructions.  She 
must  be  very  careful  about  the  branches  going 
through  the  thickets.  On  that  very  morning, 
even,  he  had  been  nearly  thrown  out  of  his 
saddle  while  galloping  under  the  branches. 
And  she  must  also  look  out  for  rabbit  holes; 
the  woods  were  full  of  them.  And  she  mustn't 
leap  in  a  group — never;  she  must  either  lead 
or  stay  behind. 

She  listened  smilingly  to  his  advice,  with  af- 
fectionate and  amiable  deference.  Finally  he 
concluded  with: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  233 

"How  good  you  are,  Bijou,  not  to  turn  a 
deaf  ear  to  the  old  friend  who  is  boring  you." 

At  this  moment,  about  two  hundred  yards 
in  front  of  the  carriage,  a  horseman  crossed 
the  road  and  entered  the  forest,  and  the  count 
continued: 

"Ah  !  there  is  Bernes  scattering  the  pieces 
of  paper;  he  has  adopted  the  right  method, 
which  is  to  makfr'the  circuit  in  an  inv'ersese  ^e 
while  dropping  the  bits  of  paper;  after  that 
there  is  nothing  to  do  but  to  run,  without 
bothering  about  anything." 

"  What  time  is  it  ?" 

"  Twenty  minutes  to  three,"  said  Bertrade, 
looking  at  her  watch.  ' '  "We  are  going  to  reach 
the  rendezvous  much  too  soon." 

Monsieur  de  Glagny  brought  the  horses  down 
to  a  trot.  Bijou  had  ridden  up  to  the  landau 
and  was  talking  to  Jeanne.  Suddenly  she 
leaned  forward  as  if  to  listen,  and  exclaimed: 

"  Ah  !  there  they  are;  I  can  hear  them." 

"  Who  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  the  marchioness. 

"Why,  the  others;  they  are  there.  I  am 
going  to  find  them.    Au  revoh\  grandmother." 

She  leaped  the  ditch  by  the  roadside,  then 
pausing,  and  kissing  her  hand  to  Jeanne,  cried: 

"  Au  revoir  to  you  too." 

But  the  landau  was  already  at  some  distance, 
and  the  coach  was  just  passing.  Giraud  on  the 
back  seat,  with  Pierrot  and  the  children,  was 


'234:  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

the  only  one  looking  in  Bijou's  direction,  and 
he  it  was  who  received  the  sweet  adieu  that 
she  had  addressed  to  her  friend. 

"Ai'o  you  sure  you  will  fiud  them  ?"  asked 
the  count,  turning  around  on  his  seat. 

"Why,  there  they  are — ten  yards  off,  I 
just  now  saw  Henry." 

And  she  disappeared  in  the  thick  shadows  of 
the  forest,  while  Monsieur  de  Clagny  followed 
her  with  anxious  eyes. 

As  soon  as  she  had  succeeded  in  finding  a 
path  Bijou  began  to  gallop,  going  straight 
ahead,  her  ear  on  the  alert,  and  her  glance 
piercing  far  into  the  depths  of  the  forest. 

Then,  all  of  a  sudden,  she  made  a  quick  turn 
into  the  underbrush,  where  she  remained, 
trying  to  prevent  Patatras,  to  the  best  of  her 
ability,  from  trampling  the  dead  branches 
under  his  feet. 

Henry  de  Bracieux,  Jean  de  Blaye,  and 
Pierrot  now  made  their  appearance  on  the 
path  that  she  had  just  abandoned,  and  paused 
almost  on  a  level  with  the  spot  where  Denyse 
was  concealed,  to  await  a  horse  that  they  heard 
galloping  not  far  off.  When  Monsieur  de 
Kueille  appeared  Henry  demanded: 

' '  What  were  you  doing  all  this  time  ?  We  saw 
you  ten  minutes  ago  at  the  end  of  the  Belles- 
Feuilles  road." 

Without  answering.  Monsieur  de  Rueille  said 
anxiously: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  235 

"  Where  is  Bijou  ?" 

"  She  deserted  us  to  go  with  the  carriages," 
replied  Pierrot  contemptuously. 

"Ah  !"  said  Rueille,  in  a  tone  of  disappoint- 
ment. Then,  turning  toward  his  brother-in- 
law,  he  replied:  "What  was  T  doing?  I 
stopped  for  a  moment  to  say  good-morning  to 
Bern5s,  who  was  talking  to  his  little  singer. 
She  has  come  in  a  cab,  and  has  stopped  in  an 
out-of-the-way  corner,  where  no  one  would  be 
likely  to  see  her,  simply  to  catch  a  three-minute 
glimpse  of  Bern^s.  They  can't  go  a  day  with- 
out seeing  each  other,  and  I  can  tell  you  she's 
very  pretty — that  little  girl." 

"  Yes,"  said  Jean  de  Blaye,  "  and  gentle  as 
a  dove,  and  well  educated." 

"Well,  that  I  didn't  know." 

"  Now  that  your  horse  has  had  time  to 
breathe,  Paul,  we  may  as  well  go  on,  if  we 
don't  wish  to  miss  the  start." 

"  Yes,"  said  Monsieur  de  Rueille,  resuming 
his  trot,  "  but  we  have  plenty  of  time.  Bernes 
is  right  behind  me." 

As  soon  as  they  had  disappeared  Bijou  came 
back  to  the  path.  Her  complexion  was  extra- 
ordinarily brilliant,  and  her  eyes  shone  with 
the  intensely  blue  flame  that  at  times  rendered 
their  expression,  usually  so  gentle,  unpleasant 
to  behold. 


236  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

After  Monsieur  do  Rucille's  departure,  Hu- 
bert de  Bernes  bad  remained  for  a  moment  to 
talk  witb  Lisette  Renaud. 

"Then  it's  all  arranged,"  said  the  little 
singer. 

' '  Notwithstanding  your  dinner,  you  will 
come  early  to  the  theater  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  And  you  will  probably  stay  in  my  box  ?" 

"  No;  I  must  go  into  the  auditorium." 

"  What!  you  who  can't  bear  La  Vivandihre; 
and  I  can  very  well  understand  it  too.  You 
are  going  to  see  it  again  ?" 

When  Bijou  had  invited  Bernes  to  come  to 
her  grandmother's  box,  he  had  refused,  know- 
ing well  that  it  would  make  Lisette  feel  badly 
to  see  him  there.  Mademoiselle  de  Courtaix 
was  very  well  known  at  Pont-sur-Loire,  and 
greatly  admired  by  the  women  of  fashion,  and 
by  the  actresses  who  alike  copied  her  toilettes 
and  envied  her  charm,  which  was  generally 
regarded  as  irresistible. 

For  several  days  past  the  little  lieutenant 
was  aware  that  he  likewise  was  subject  to  this 
charm.  His  love  for  Lisette  had  hitherto  acted 
as  a  safeguard.  He  loved  this  faithful  and  de- 
voted little  creature  with  all  his  heart — Lisette, 
who  had  never  accepted  anything  from  him 
but  flowers,  or  inexpensive  souvenirs,  and 
who,  although  her  income  derived  from  the 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  237' 

Pont-sur-Loire  theater  was  only  eight  hun- 
dred francs  a  month,  had  distinctly  declared 
that  she  would  receive  no  valuable  gift;  and 
he  very  well  knew  that  any  persuasion  to  the 
contrary  would  have  simply  irritated  her,  and 
resulted  in  a  separation.  But  it  was  even, 
possible  that  he  loved  the  young  woman  more 
for  her  delicate  soul,  and  exquisite  heart,  than 
for  her  pure  and  girlish  beauty;  a  beauty 
without  brilliancy,  but  genuine,  captivating 
and  rare,  and  which  affected  him  with  a  sense 
of  gentle,  restful  happiness.  And  now  since 
ho  had  paid  some  attention  to  Bijou,  whom 
heretofore  he  had  never  observed,  he  had 
experienced  strong  sensations  that  he  could 
neither  resist  nor  account  for.  In  vain  did  he 
repeat  to  himself  that  Lisette,  with  her  large, 
kind,  beautiful  eyes,  her  fine,  fresh  skin,  her 
brilliant  teeth  and  her  graceful,  distinguished 
form,  was  prettier  than  Mademoiselle  de 
Courtaix;  it  was  Bijou's  forget-me-not  eyes, 
curling  locks,  and  tempting  mouth  that  were 
calculated  to  inspire,  so  it  seemed  to  him, 
tender  caresses  and  mad  kisses.  Lisette, 
without  suspecting  yet  that  her  happiness  was 
threatened,  nevertheless  was  conscious  of  a 
certain  feeling  of  anxiety  that  saddened  her 
heart.  She  could  not  understand  why  Bernes 
should  reply  so  coldly  to  her  question. 

"I  am  going  to  see  Xa  Vivandibre  sig&in, 


238  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

because,  in  order  to  refuse  a  seat  that  has 
been  offered  me  in  a  box,  I  have  been  com- 
pelled to  say  that  I  had  promised  to  go  to  the 
theater  with  my  comrades." 

"  Ah!  who  has  offered  you  a  seat?" 

"An  old  lady  whom  you  don't  know — 
Madame  de  Bracieux.  Now  you  are  much 
wiser,  aren't  you  ?" 

"  Madame  de  Bracieux,"  replied  she  sadly, 
without  knowing  why;  "she  is  the  grand- 
mother of  Mademoiselle  de  Courtaix." 

"How  did  you  know  that?"  he  asked  in 
surprise. 

"  Why — just  as  every  one  knows  it  in  Pont- 
sur- Loire." 

"  Meanwhile,"  said  he  irritably,  "  I  am  going 
to  miss  the  rendezvous." 

"  Go,  then,"  said  Lisette,  with  regret,  "  and 
enjoy  yourself — a  ce  soil'.'''' 

'•'•  A  ce  soir  V 

Just  as  he  was  entering  the  woods,  he 
called  out,  turning  around  in  his  saddle : 

' '  Above  all,  take  care  that  no  one  sees  you. 
Don't  go  where  the  carriages  are." 

Then  striking  into  the  bridle-path  that  Bijou 
had  just  taken,  he  urged  his  horse  into  a 
swift  hunting  gallop  in  order  to  make  up  for 
lost  time.  Suddenly  he  stopped,  striving  to 
distinguish  something  in  the  distance. 

"Ah!"  said  he  to  himself,  "  a  horse  without  a 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  239 

rider;  some  man  must  have  been  thrown 
already." 

As  he  approached  he  saw  that  the  horse 
had  on  a  woman's  saddle,  and  he  gave  a  cry 
on  perceiving  Bijou  lying  on  her  back,  in  the 
grass  on  the  side  of  the  path.  One  of  her 
arras  was  lying  across  her  chest,  while  the 
other  fell  by  her  side.  Her  eyes  were  closed 
and  her  lips  half-open.  Bernes  leaped  to  the 
ground  and  secured  his  horse;  then,  taking 
Denyse  in  his  arms,  he  tried  to  arrange  her  in 
a  more  comfortable  position  with  her  back 
against  a  tree. 

But  when  he  saw  her  head  fall  lifelessly  on 
his  shoulder,  he  enfolded  her  in  his  arms,  and 
in  his  excitement  leaned  over  her,  covering  her 
pretty  curling  locks  with  kisses  and  repeating, 
in  spite  of  himself: 

"Bijou,  my  Bijou,  won't  you  hear  me? 
Answer  me^  I  pray  you!  It  makes  me  so 
unhappy  to  see  you  like  this." 

At  the  end  of  two  or  three  minutes  Denyse 
gave  a  gentle  sigh  and  slowly  opened  her  eyes. 
At  the  sight  of  Bernes  her  solemn  face  grew 
smiling: 

"Ah!"  murmured  she,  "what  a  stupid 
tumble." 

"  How  did  you  happen  to  fall  ?"  he  asked. 

"I  don't  know.  I  think  my  horse  must 
have  put  his  foot  in  a  hole." 


240  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Oh!  aud  then  you  went  head  over  heels." 

"Your  description  is  right,"  replied  she 
laughingly. 

"  Have  you  hurt  yourself  ?" 

"Not  thelea.st  bit." 

Then  she  added  pensively: 

"It  is  very  nice  of  you  to  concern  yourself 
about  me,  and  so  much  more,  as  I  believe  you 
don't  care  for  me." 

Hubert  de  Bern^s  grew  red  as  a  beet,  ex- 
claim i'^g: 

"On!  mademoiselle!  can  you  believe 
that  ?" 

"  I  do  believe  it,  yes;  perfectly." 

"But  at  least,"  he  demanded  in  astonish- 
ment, '.'.tell  me  what  ever  could  have  made 
you  think  of  such  a  thing  ?" 

"Oh,  everything  and  nothing.  It  would 
take  too  long  to  tell.  Oh,  this  morning,  for  in- 
stance, when  I  begged  you  to  come  to  the 
theater  with  us,  you  looked  quite  overcome, 
and  you  refused — ah,  indeed,  you  did — pretty 
flatly— and  why  did  yon  ?" 

"But  mademoiselle,  I — I  assure  you " 

"  You  see,  you  can't  find  a  word  to  say — not 
even  some  trivial  excuse." 

Shaking  back  her  hair,  which  fell  over  the 
young  man's  cheek  and  shoulder,  she  said, 
laughing  merrily,  without  ceasing  to  lean  on 
him  as  if  he  were  an  easy-chair: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP,  2Al 

"  But  it's  all  the  same  to  me,  for,  whether 
you  wish  to  or  not,  you  will  go  with  us  to  the 
theater.     You  can't  refuse." 

"But " 

"There  is  no  but!  I  ask  you  for  that  as 
my  choice  of  stakes." 

"  Your  choice  of  stakes  ?" 

^^  Dame  !  didn't  we  bet— I,  that  there  would 
be  some  accident  because  there  always  is  one, 
and  you  that  there  wouldn't  be  any." 

"Yes.     Very  well?" 

"Very  well— but  I  consider  this  a  acci- 
dent. Don't  you  think  it  enough  of  one  ? 
What  do  you  want  more  ?" 

"That  is  true,"  he  murmured.  "I  am  an 
idiot  !  It  was  because  I  was  so  frightened,  if 
you  only  knew." 

She  gave  him  a  sweet  look  that  quite  en- 
chanted him,  and  put  out  her  hand,  saying: 

"Thank  you  for  having  taken  such  good 
care  of  ine,  and  now  leave  me  at  once." 

"  Can  you  mount  yourself  ?" 

"  Not  just  yet.  I  am  suffering  from  a  feeling 
of  general  pain  and  very  great  lassitude.  No, 
you  must  go  and  tell  Monsieur  de  Clagny  to 
come  here  in  his  coach,  and  he  will  take  me 
back.  Speak  to  him  in  an  undertone.  I  don't 
wish  grandmother  to  know  anything  about 
it." 

As  Hubert  de  Bernes  still  held  Bijou's  little 
hand  to  his  lips,  she  said  impatiently: 


242  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Go  quickly  now,  and  explain  to  Monsieur 
de  Clagny  that  he  is  to  leave  the  coach  on  the 
road,  and  say  to  him  that  he  will  iind  me  in 
the  woods— by  the  side  of  the  road — i^recisely 
where  I  left  him  a  little  while  ago.  And  be- 
fore you  go  away  will  you  tic  Patatras  to  a 
tree?    Thanks." 

She  gave  him  her  sweetest  look,  and  asked: 

"  It's  all  arranged  for  this  evening,  isn't  it?" 

"  It's  all  arranged,"  he  replied. 

As  soon  as  he  had  disappeared,  she  lay 
down  again,  exactly  in  the  same  position  in 
whicli  Barnes  had  found  her.  Not  long  after 
the  sound  of  carriage  wheels  could  be  heard 
on  the  road,  and  Monsieur  dc  Clagny  descend- 
ing from  his  coach  entered  the  bridle-path. 
At  the  sight  of  Bijou  he  gave  a  cry  of  grief, 
and  running  up  to  her  took  her  in  his  arms, 
exclaiming  in  accents  of  anxiety  and  anguish: 

"  Bijou  !  my  love  !  my  adored  little  Bijou!" 
And  like  Barnes,  he  added,  "Hear  me,  my 
Bijou  !  answer  me,  I  implore  you,"  and  press- 
ing his  lips  to  her  hair,  he  clasped  her  in  his 
arms.       * 

After  a  while  she  opened  lier  eyes,  fixed 
those  beautiful  innocent  orbs  upon  the  count, 
and  clinging  tightly  to  him,  she  murmured, 
seeming  again  to  slumber: 

"I  love  you  so  much,  and  I  am  so  hajipy 
here;  if  you  only  knew — so,  so  happy — I  should 
like  to  stay  thus  forever." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  343 


XIV. 

"  Come  in,"  cried  Bijou. 

Standing  before  a  glass,  she  was  brushing 
her  pretty  hair,  that  curled  up  crisply  as  the 
brush  passed  over  it,  filling  the  air  with  its 
delicate  perfume. 

"  It  is  Monseiur  le  Comte  de  Clagny  who 
has  come  to  ask  after  mademoiselle,"  said  the 
servant. 

"After  me?" 

"  On  account  of  mademoiselle's  fall." 

"  Oh,  I  had  forgotten  all  about  it." 

And  going  toward  the  window,  she  asked: 

"  Is  he  driving?" 

"  Monsieur  le  Comte  came  on  horseback, 
but  he  is  in  the  drawing-room." 

"  Ah,  very  well,  then  I  will  go  down." 

As  soon  as  the  servant  had  gone  out,  Bijou 
quickly  changed  her  wrapper,  and  put  on  a  pair 
of  heelless  pink  kid  Turkish  slippers,  which 
made  her  feet  look  delightfully  droll,  and  with 
her  hair  flowing  over  the  pleated  pink  batiste 
collar  of  her  long  loose  gown,  unconfined  at 
the  waist,  she  ran  down  to  receive  Monsieur  de 
Clagny. 

On  seeing  her  enter,  the  count  arose  quickly. 


244  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

His  face  was  drawn  and  wore  a  sad  and  weary 
expression.  Extending  her  hands,  which  he 
kissed,  Bijou  exchiimed: 

"  How  good  of  you  to  put  yourself  out  so 
for  me  at  such  an  hour;  it  is  hardly  eight 
o'clock.  You  must  have  left  La  Noriniere 
mightily  early." 

"Don't  let  US  bother  about  me.  Tell  me 
rather  how  you  are  feeling." 

' '  Why,  wonderfully  well.  You  saw  yesterday 
that  I  followed  the  paper  hunt  as  if  I  had 
never  had  any  fall,  and  in  the  evening,  at  the 
theater,  I  didn't  appear  ill— did  I  ?" 

"No,  not  exactly  ill,  but  still  I  thought  you 
were  rather  excited  at  the  theater — a  little 
feverish;"  and  he  added  sadly,  "  besides,  I 
didn't  sec  much  of  you  there.  You  were  in- 
terested only  in  Hubert  de  Bernes,  and  you 
greatly  neglected  your  old  friend." 

She  arose,  and  going  up  to  him  exclaimed, 
coaxingly: 

"  Oh,  how  could  you  imagine  such  a  thing?" 

"I  didn't  imagine,  alas  !  I  saw;  and  I  don't 
blame  you,  my  poor  little  girl.  Youth  is 
always  attracted  by  youth;  it  is  quite  natural." 

"Why,  no,"  said  Bijou  with  sincerity; 
"  why  not  at  all.  I  don't  care  so  much  for 
youth,  in  general,  as  all  that;  and  I  cannot 
tolerate  youths  of  Monsieur  de  Bernes'  age  in 
Tjarticulax'. " 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  245 

*'  Yes,  I  remember  that  you  said  that  to  me 
once  before.  You  said  it  the  first  time  that  I 
ever  saw  you,  right  here,  while  we  were  both 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  guests  before 
dinner." 

Denyse  began  to  laugh. 

"  What  a  memory  you  have." 

"  I  always  have  where  you  are  concerned." 

And  in  a  voice  that  trembled  slightly,  he 
asked: 

"Do  you  remember  what  you  said  to  me 
yesterday  ?" 

"Yesterday?" 

"  Yes,  yesterday,  when  I  was  holding  you  in 
my  arms,  trembling  like  a  little  bird." 

Appearing  to  reflect,  and  opening  wide  her 
eyes,  which  at  that  moment  resembled  pale 
violets,  she  replied: 

"No,  I  do  not.  I  have  forgotten.  I  was 
slightly  stunned  by  my  fall,  you  understand." 

And  as  Monsieur  de  Clagny  remained  speech- 
less, she  continued: 

"  Come,  now!  what  did  I  say  that  was  so 
interesting  ?" 

Regarding  Bijou  attentively,  who  listened  to 
him  with  an  air  of  amusement,  and  parted 
lips,  he  repeated  slowly: 

"You  said  'I  am  so  happy,  if  you  only 
knew — I  should  like  to  stay  thus  forever.'  " 

' '  I  don't  remember  having  said  that,  but  in 


246  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

any  case  I  did  well  to  say  it,  because  it  is  quite 
true,  you  know." 

Drawing  Bijou  to  him,  he  asked: 

"  Wouldn't  it  really  distress  you  to  have  me 
always  near  you  like  that  ?" 

"  Why,  no,  it  wouldn't  distress  me!  Oh,  no, 
not, at  all." 

"Really  and  truly?'' 

"  Really  and  truly;  but  why  do  you  ask  me  ?" 

"For  no  reason.  Do  you  know  if  your 
grandmother  is  up  ?" 

' '  She  never  gets  up  before  half -past  eight 
or  nine  o'clock,  particularly  when  she  goes  to 
bed  late,  as  she  did  last  night;  it  was  nearly 
two  o'clock  when  we  got  back." 

"And  you  are  as  fresh  and  as  pretty  as  if 
you  had  slept  all  night.  Tell  me,  could  I  see 
your  grandmother?  I  shouM  very  much  like 
to  do  so." 

"Have  you  anything  to  say  to  her?  or  is  it 
any  message  that  I  can  give  her  for  you  ?" 

"  No,  I  must  speak  to  her  myself." 

"But  she  will  probably  make  you  wait  'a 
bit,'  as  they  say  here." 

"Well,  I  will  wait." 

Bijou  regarded  Monsieur  de  Clagny  with 
astonishment  as  he  walked  up  and  down  the 
large  room,  and  with  curiosity  aroused  she 
questioned: 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  for  surely 
something  must  be  troubling  you." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  247 

"Why?" 

"Why,  yes,  you  go  on  marching  backward 
and  forward.  Oh!  I  once  saw  Paul  dc  Pviicille 
walk  up  and  down  just  like  that." 

"  I  also  observed  him— it  was  on  the  evening 
of  the  La  Balue,  Juzeneourt  &  Co.  dinner, 
while  you  were  singing." 

"  Not  at  all.  It  was  one  day  when  he  was 
going  to  fight  a  ridiculous  duel,  and  he  didn't 
know  whether  he  ought  to  tell  Bertrade  or 
not." 

"And  what  did  he  do?" 

"I  believe  that  he  didn't  tell  her." 

"Well,  he  was  made  of  sterner  stuff  than  I." 

"Are  you  going  to  have  a  duel?"  said  Bijou 
eagerly. 

' '  You  might  call  it  a  duel — and  an  absurd 
one  unquestionably— a  combat  against  an  im- 
possibility. You  can't  understand  that,  my 
l^or  dear  little  Bijou." 

"And  you  fancy  that  grandmother  will 
understand  you  better  than  I  ?" 

"  I  don't  know;  in  any  case  she  will  listen, 
and  she  will  sympathize  with  me." 

' '  Well,  I  too — I  will  listen  to  you  and 
sympathize  with  you." 

His  face  expressed  real  suffering  as  he  said: 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  be  pitied  by  you." 

"Then  you  don't  like  me." 

Monsieur  de  Clagny  made  a  sudden  gesture, 


248  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

then  stopped  himself  and  with  a  calmness  that 
belied  the  worried  look  in  his  eyes  and  the 
treraulousncss  of  his  voice  he  exclaimed: 

"  Yes,  I  like  yon,  I  like  yon  very  ranch." 

Then  taking  np  his  hat  that  he  had  laid  on  a 
piece  of  furniture,  he  walked  rapidly  toward 
the  door  that  opened  on  the  terrace,  saying: 

' '  I  am  going  to  wait  in  the  park  till  your 
grandmother  shall  be  ready  to  receive  me." 

But  as  soon  as  he  saw  that  Bijou  had  left 
the  drawing-room  he  came  back  and  seated 
himself  in  an  attitude  expressive  of  weakness, 
suddenly  aged  by  some  painful  preoccupation. 
The  marchioness  did  not  keep  him  waiting 
long.     On  entering,  she  exclaimed,  all  smiles: 

"  You  are  wonderfully  early,  Clagny." 

Then  observing  her  old  friend's  worried 
look,  she  demanded  anxiously: 

"Ah!  mon  Dieu!  what  has  happened  to 
you  ?" 

"A  misfortune." 

"Tell  me  what  it  is." 

"That  is  exactly  what  I  am  here  to  do  at 
this  early  hour.  Do  you  remember  that  when 
I  came  here  the  first  time,  fifteen  days  ago, 
as  I  was  admiring  Bijou,  how  you  reminded 
me  that  she  was  your  granddaughter,  and 
might  be  my  own  V 

"Yes." 

"  I  answered  you  that  T  knew  it  quite  well, 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  249 

but  that  all  that  was  only  reasoning,  and  that 
young  hearts  reason  but  seldom  and  very 
badly." 

"  Perfectly — very  well." 

"  Well,  I  am  in  love  with  Bijou  now;  I  love 
her  with  all  my  heart. " 

''Patatrasr 

"Ah!  you  are  very  consoling." 

'■'■Dame!  my  poor  friend,  what  do  you  want 
me  to  say  to  you  ?  you  don't  cherish  any  hopes 
of  marrying  Bijou,  do  you  ?" 

With  eyes  full  of  tears,  and  a  choking  voice, 
he  replied: 

"No,  I  have  no  such  hopes,  and  still  I  im- 
plore you  to  tell  your  granddaughter  what  I 
have  just  confessed  to  you.  I  am  fifty-nine 
years  old;  I  have  an  income  of  six  hundred 
thousand  francs;  I  am  neither  bad  nor  re- 
pulsive, and  I  adore  her  as  she  will  never  be 
adored  by  another." 

"But  think  for  a  moment;  you  are " 

"Thirty-eight  years  older  thau  she.  This 
difference  is  to  me,  above  all,  one  to  be  dreaded; 
yes,  I  am  aware  of  it,  and  I  accept  all  the 
danger  of  this  disproportion." 

"And  she?" 

"  She — she  will  decide  either  for  or  against 
me.  She  is  twenty-one  years  old;  she  is  no 
longer  a  child;   she  knows  what  she  is  about." 

'■  That  doesn't  prevent  me  from  having  souie 
responsibility,  and  from ^" 


250  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.       ' 

"Ah!  you  see;  you  fear  that  she  may  con- 
sent." 

"Fear?  indeed,  no;  lam  convinced  that 
this  idealistic  little  creature  dreams  of  a  hus- 
band quite  different  from  yourself." 

*'And  if  by  chance — oli!  understand  thor- 
oughly th'.t  I  don't  expect  it — but  if  by  chance 
you  she'  "d  be  mistaken,  what  would  you  do  ?" 

"  What  would  you  wish  me  to  do  ?" 

"I  should  wish  nothing.  I  fear  that  you  may 
use  your  influence  with  Bijou." 

"  No,  I  shall  say  what  I  think  it  is  my  duty 
to  say — no  more." 

"  Then  you  are  going  to  speak  to  her  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  "Would  you  like  me  to  come  back  in  a  lit- 
tle while  ?" 

"Oh!  Tio,  give  me  till  to-morrow.  I  shall 
probably  not  speak  to  her  until  this  evening; 
but,  in  fact,  that  doesn't  hinder  you  from  com- 
ing to  dine  here,  if  you  care  to;  it  is  for  the — 
for  the  answer  that  I  wish  to  put  you  off  until 
to-morrow." 

"If  she  refuses,  I  shall  go  away." 

"Whereto?" 

"  Can  I  tell  ?  My  life  will  be  over.  I  shall 
go  to  pieces  in  some  oufof  the  way  corner." 

"  You  reasoned  like  that  twelve  years  ago, 
and  here  you  are  to-day,  I  will  not  say  young- 
er." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  251 

The  marchioness  paused,  then  smilingly  re- 
sumed: 

"  And  why  shouldn't  I  say  it  ?  You  appear 
to  me  younger  now  than  you  did  then.  You 
are  a  wonder,  my  friend,  no  one  would  take  you 
for  more  than  forty-five." 

"  If  what  you  say  were  only  true.'' 

"  It  is,  I  assure  you;  but  all  the  s.  oe  that 
doesn't  2)revent  you  from  being  fifty-nine." 

Monsieur  de  Clagny  arose. 

"Adieu,"  said  he,  "till  to-morrow." 

And  he  added  with  a  pathetic  smile: 

"Or  rather  until  this  evening.  Yes — for  as 
the  end  of  the  day  approaches  I  shall  be 
seized  with  an  unconquerable  desire  to  see  her 
again,  and  I  shall  come,  as  I  did  yesterday, 
and  Thursday,  and  every  day." 

He  seized  Madame  de  Bracieux's  hand  and 
pressed  it  nervously,  murmuring: 

"  In  the  name  of  our  old  friendship,  I  pray 
you,  be  kind  to  me." 

All  during  breakfast  the  marchioness  ap- 
peared preoccupied,  and  on  several  occasions 
Monsieur  de  Jonzac  asked  his  sister: 

"  What  is  the  matter  now  ?  Have  you  the 
blues  ?" 

"  My  aunt  must  have  gonCtto  bed  very  late," 
said  Jean  de  Blaye;  "  I  heard  you  all  come  in 
— it  must  have  been  two  o'clock." 


252  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Then  addressing  himself  to  Bijou,  he  said: 
"Well,  did   you   amuse    yourself?    Was  it 
pretty  ?" 

"Charming,"  said  the  young  girl  abstract- 
edly. 

"That  little  Lisette  Renaud  is  really  de- 
lightful," said  Monsieur  de  Rueille.  "She has 
such  great  sad  blue  eyes.  Didn't  you  also  like 
her,  grandmother." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Madame  de  Bracieux,  "she 
is  most  attractive,  and  she  has  an  admirable 
voice.  I  was  amazed  to  find  anything  like  that 
at  Pont-sur -Loire;  amazed  also  at  the  elegance 
of  the  audience;  there  were  a  great  many 
pretty  well-dressed  women  there." 

"  But  almost  all  were  in  pink,"  exclaimed 
Denyse;  "I  remember  noticing  that." 

"It  was  owing  to  you,"  said  Monsieur  de 
Eueille.  ' '  The  ladies  of  Pont-sur-Loire  always 
see  you  in  pink,  and  as  you  are  to  them  le 
dernier  cri,  they  also  dress  in  pink." 

Seeing  that  Bijou  looked  surprised,  he  asked: 
"  Isn't  my  little  elucidation  clear  ?" 
"It  is  clear,"  replied  she,  laughing,  "but 
purely   imaginary.     No  one,   my  poor  Paul, 
pays  the  least  attention  to  me. "    And  as  Ma- 
dame de  Rueille  turned  toward  her,  she  said: 
"What  do  you  think  about  it,  Bertrade  ?" 
"  I  think  that  you  are  much  too  modest." 
"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Giraud,  regarding  the  young 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  253 

girl  with  intense  admiration,  "Mademoiselle 
Denyse  is'indeed  too  modest.  Yesterday  at  the 
theater  every  one's  eyes  were  fixed  upon  her, 
and  the  prima  donna  herself  never  ceased 
to " 

"You  are  dreaming.  Monsieur  Giraud.  I 
never  observed  that  any  one  noticed  our  box; 
but  even  if  they  did,  it  doesn't  necessarily 
follow  that  they  were  looking  at  me." 

"Evidently,"  said  Henry  de  Bracieux,  "it 
was  grandmother  who  so  greatly  interested 
the  natives." 

"  No,  but  it  might  have  been  Jeanne  Dubu- 
isson." 

"That  is  true.  The  little  Dubuisson  girl  is 
such  a  novelty  at  Pont-sur-Loire.  The  sight 
of  her  would  be  sure  to  cause  a  sensation." 

Bijou  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  You  all  of  you  know  that  I  have  a  perfect 
horror  of  exciting  attention,  and  you  are  all 
the  time  saying  these  things  to  torment  me." 

"  If  you  have  a  horror  of  attracting  atten- 
tion," cried  Pierrot,  "that  big  Gisele  de  la 
Balue  doesn't  object — no,  indeed.  There  is  a 
person  who  would  gladly  change  places  with 
you.  Yesterday,  at  the  paper-hunt  luncheon, 
she  was  going  for  everybody  like  an  over- 
grown fly,  even  though  Monsieur  de  Bernes 
shook  her  off." 

"  He  is  very  nice,  little  Bernfes,"  said  the 


254  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

marchioness.  "  I  saw  a  good  deal  of  him  last 
evening,  and  I  was  very  much  pleased  with 
him.  He  is  unaffected,  well-bred,  and  not 
stupid." 

Jean  de  Blaye,  observing  that  Bijou's  face 
wore  an  expression  of  indifference,  demanded: 

' '  You  don't  seem  to  be  of  grandmother's 
opinion." 

"Oh!    MonBieuf    Yes." 

"Confess,  now,  that  you  lack  enthusiasm." 

"  Well,  I  confess  that  I  do." 

"Ah  !  and  what  fault  have  you  to  find  with 
him  ?"  said  the  marchioness,  turning  to  her 
granddaughter. 

"Why,  none,  grandmother — none  at  all.  I 
think  he  is  very  much  like  other  people.  I'm 
not  wildly  enthusiastic  about  him — that  is  all." 

"  I  think,"  said  Monsieur  de  Rueille,  "that 
the  person  about  whom  you  will  be  wildly  en- 
thusiastic is  yet  to  be  born.  You  are  very 
kind,  very  indulgent.  You  find  every  one 
passably  nice;  but  particularly  nice — ah ! — 
that's  quite  another  matter." 

"You  are  exaggerating." 

"Am  I?  Very  well.  Then  tell  me  of  any 
one  man  who  thoroughly  suits  you." 

"Why,  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  for  instance." 

"So  you  approve  of  him,"  said  the  mar- 
chioness— you  approve  of  him,  then  ?  But 
how  ? — not  enough  to  marry  him,  I  presume  ?" 


felJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  255 

"  No,"  replied  Bijou,  laughing,  "  not  enough 
to  marry  him." 

As  they  were  leaving  the  table  Jean  de  Blaye 
said: 

"  Has  any  one  any  errands  for  Pont-sur- 
Loire  ?" 

"  What !"  said  Bijou  in  surprise,  "are  you 
going  to  Pont-sur-Loire  like  that — all  alone? 
"What  in  the  world  are  you  going  to  do  there  ?" 

"  What  am  I  going  to  do  there  ?"  he  repeated, 
with  some  hesitation,  "  why,  I  have  some 
errands." 

"  Will  you  take  me  with  you  ?" 

* '  Take  you  with  me — why  ?" 

Ever  since  the  evening  on  which  he  had  con- 
fessed to  Bijou  that  he  loved  her  he  had 
avoided  all  occasions  of  being  alone  with  her. 
As  to  herself,  her  manner  toward  him  and 
Henry  de  Bracieux  had  not  undergone  the 
slightest  modification.  She  was  as  unre- 
strained, as  cordial  as  before  she  had  refused 
her  hand,  and  seemed  to  have  quite  forgotten 
that  they  had  ever  asked  for  it. 

"But,  what  is  the  matter?  Don't  you  wish 
to  take  me  with  you  ?"  said  she  in  surprise. 

Ill  at  ease,  fearing  the  tete-a-tete,  and  not 
daring  to  refuse  to  take  Bijou  before  them  all, 
he  replied,  affecting  to  joke: 

"  Why,  yes.  On  the  contrary,  I  am  highly 
flattered  at  the  honor  that  you  are  so  kind  as 
to  confer  upon  me." 


256  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Ah  1  now  you  are  nice." 

"Yes,  I  know  I  am  charming;  but  you  must 
have  some  one  to  accompany  you  besides  my- 
self, because  I  have  some  business  to  attend 
to." 

"Oh  !"  said  Denyse,  in  a  disappointed  tone, 
"  won't  you  let  me  go  with  you  ?" 

Madame  de  Bracieux  now  entered. 

"  Why,  my  dear  Bijou,  in  any  case  you  can- 
not, both  of  you,  go  together  like  that.  Even 
though  Jean  is  your  second  cousin,  such  a 
thing  wouldn't  answer.  You  must  take  old 
.Josephine  with  you,  and  then  it  will  be  quite 
correct." 

After  a  short  silence  the  marchioness  re- 
sumcid: 

"But  what  have  you  to  do  at  Pont-sur- 
Loire  ?" 

"  Some  shopping,  grandmother.  You  forget 
that  there  is  always  some  shopping  to  be  done 
for  the  house;  and  then  I  shall  go  to  see 
Jeanne.  This  is  just  the  day  that  all  Monsieur 
Spiegel's  time  is  taken  up;  so  I  shan't  interfere 
with  their  billing  and  cooing." 

"  They  don't  look  to  me  as  if  they  did  much 
billing  and  cooing,"  said  Monsieur  de  Jonzac. 
"I  was  observing  them  yesterday.  Either  I 
am  very  much  mistaken,  or  the  prospect  of 
this  marriage  is  somewhat  dim." 

"Why  do  you  think  so,  Uncle  Alexis?" 
questioned  Bijou,  with  an  anxious  air. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  257 

"Because  the  little  girl  seems  sad  to  me, 
and  the  professor  indifferent;  haven't  you 
remarked  it  ?" 

"No,"  she  replied,  "I  am  not  particularly 
observing." 

On  their  way  from  Cracieux  to  Pont-sur- 
Loire,  Bijou  and  Jean  maintained  a  strict 
silence.  When  they  reached  the  town  near 
the  station,  they  met  Madame  de  Nezel,  who 
was  coming  from  "The  Pines  "  on  the  half- 
past  two  train.  On  seeing  her,  Bijou  started 
and  her  lips  moved  as  if  she  were  going  to 
speak,  but  she  contented  herself  with  giving 
her  cousin  one  of  her  sweet  searching  glances. 
Jean,  who  appeared  embarrassed,  pretended 
not  to  see  the  young  woman,  who,  instead  of 
going  toward  the  center  of  the  town,  turned 
into  a  little  street  that  ran  through  vacant 
lots  and  gardens.  When  Bijou  got  out  of  the 
carriage  with  old  Josephine  at  the  Dubuisson's 
door,  she  inquired: 

"Where  shall  I  find  you  again? — and  at 
what  time  ?" 

"At  the  hotel.  I  shall  tell  them  to  have  the 
horses  harnessed  at  six  o'clock,  if  that  suits 
you." 

"Six  o'clock,"  said  she,  in  astonishment; 
"three  hours  and  a  half  for  shopping — in 
Pont-sur-Loire  !" 

Wishing  to  avoid  Bijou's   inquiries,   Jean 


g58  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

somewhat  impatiently  offered  to  leave  sooner, 
but  she  refused,  saying: 

"No;  why  should  you?  lam  charmed  at 
the  idea  of  having  more  time  to  stay  with 
Jeanne." 

Mademoiselle  Dubuisson  was  at  home. 
Denyse  saw  that  her  face  wore  a  sad  expres- 
sion, and  that  her  eyes  were  hollow. 

"  "What  is  the  matter  now  ?"  she  demanded; 
"  aren't  things  going  on  well  ?" 

"  No,  not  very  well." 

"Is  it — is  your fiaiic^ " 

"  He  is  still  the  same." 

"  Which  means " 

"That  I  think  he  has  even  grown  a  little 
more  indifferent;  but  there  is  something  else 
that  has  upset  me  .this  morning. " 

"Ah!  what  is  it?" 

"Oh!  something  that  has  no  connection 
with  me  at  all,  but  which  has  pained  me  all 
the  same." 

And  avoiding  Bijou's  glance,  she  continued: 

"  You  know  Lisette  Renaud  ?" 

"  Yes— well?" 

"Well,  she  died  this  morning." 

"Died?— of  what?" 

"  They  believe  that  she  killed  herself." 

"But  how?" 

"  With  morphine.  You  can  understand  that 
they  didn't  say  much  about  it  before  me;  but 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  259 

I  inferred  that  it  was  ou  account  of  a  discus- 
sion that  she  had  with  Monsieur  de  Bernes. " 

"When?" 

"Yesterday,  after  the  play— or  ^this  morn- 
ing— papa  and  Monsieur  Spiegel  spoke  of  it  at 
breakfast,  but  vaguely  and  covertly. " 

"It  is  awfully  sad,  and  I  can  understand 
why  it  has  affected  you." 

"Indeed,  yes;  and  still  more  so  as  at  this 
time  the  sorrows  of  lovers  particularly  appeal 
to  me."  Then  with  a  mournful  smile  she 
added:     "And  with  reason." 

"That  poor  little  prima  donna!"  said  Bijou, 
in  a  tone  of  regret;  "as  far  as  my  taste  is 
concerned,  I  don't  care  much  for  theatrical 
women,  but  this  one  seemed  so  nice,  and  she 
really  sang  well.  What  a  pity!  and  Monsieur 
de  Bernes  must  feel  very  badly  about  it." 

"Do  you  think  that  those  who  cause  others 
to  suffer,  are  ever  very  unhappy?"  said  Jeanne, 
still  looking  away  from  Bijou;  "as  to  me,  I  do 
not  think  so;  those  who  are  unconscious  cause 
suffering  without  being  aware  of  it;  while  those 
who  are  conscious  cause  others  to  suffer  be 
cause  it  amuses  them,  and  in  neither  case  do 
they  feel  any  remorse." 

As  she  contmued  pensive,  with  a  far-off  look 
in  her  eyes,  Bijou  passed  her  hand  gently  over 
them,  saying: 

"  Don't  think  any  mor«  of  such  sad  things, 


'ZeO  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

my  dear  Jeanne;  your  grief  will  not  change 
what  lias  happened,  and  you  are  doing  yourself 
harm  to  no  avail.  Come,  let  us  talk  about 
the  review,  about  chiffons,  about  no  matter 
what.  Ah,  a  propos  de  chiffons,  does  your 
gown  fit  you  ?" 

"  It  fits  me,  but  it  isn't  becoming," 

'"Tisn't  possible." 

"On  the  contrary,  it  is  very  natural.  I 
haven't  your  complexion;  I  am  paler  than  you 
and  that  shade  of  pink  makes  me  look  still 
paler,  and  then  I  am  almost  thin;  so  this  little 
pleated  waist,  that  adapt  itself  so  charmingly 
to  what  your  uncle  calls  your  '  curves,'  makes 
me  look  too  straight  up  and  down;  but  then 
it's  of  no  importance." 

"  How  of  no  importance  ?" 

"Why,  can't  you  see,  my  dear  Bijou,  that 
whether  W( '1  or  ill-dressed,  the  mediocrity 
that  I  represent  passes  unperceived  beside 
beauty  like  yours. " 

Raising  her  eyes  to  heaven,  with  a  serio- 
comic air.  Bijou  exclaimed: 

"  Your  [point  of  view  is  altogether  wrong, 
my  poor  darling." 

Then  suddenly  changing  her  tone  she  said: 

"  At  what  time  will  you  ^  to  the  races  to- 
morrow ?" 

"  I  don't  know.  Papa  has  to  decide  that 
with  Monsieur  Spiegel.     Ah!  tell  me  now,  will 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  261 

you  go  early  to  the  Tourville's  ball  ?  I  shouldn't 
like  to  get  there  before  you." 

Denyse  looked  at  her  watch. 

"I  must  run  away,"  she  exclaimed;  "they 
want  some  gardenias  at  the  house  for  bouton- 
nieres,  and  I  don't  know  where  to  find  any. 
Some  one  spoke  to  me  of  a  gardener  near  the 
station." 

"Near  the  station?  I  have  never  seen  any 
there  but  market-gardeners,  not  florists." 

"Yes,  it  appears  there  is  one  in  that  little 
street,  you  know,  at  the  right  of  the  wharf." 

"Lilac  lane;  I  know  perfectly  which_^  one 
you  mean;  but  there  is  nothing  there  but 
market  gardens,  some  lots  for  sale,  and  some 
small  houses  that  the  officers  rent  because  they 
are  near  the  barracks." 

Bijou  arose. 

"Still,"  said  she,  "I  am  going  to  look 
there." 

Denyse  was  the  first  to  arrive  at  the  hotel. 
Jean  de  Blaye  came  a  little  late;  he  looked  sad 
and  worn.  Madame  de  Nezel  had  kept  the 
appointment  that  she  had  made  with  him, 
but  only  to  give  him  back  his  freedom,  for 
which  he  had  no  further  use,  and  which  bo 
had  not  dared  to  refuse,  and  unhappy  and  dis- 
contented with  ^ach  other  they  had  been  com- 
pelled to  remain  imprisoned  for  a  long  time  in 
the  little  house  belonging  to  one  of  De  Blaye's 


262  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

military  friends,  because  Bijou,  accompanied 
by  old  Josephine,  had  roamed  up  and  down  the 
street  part  of  the  afternoon.  She  passed  and 
repassed,  seeming  to  search  for  some  trace 
with  a  persistency  that  Jean  could  not  under- 
stand and  whicli  greatly  annoyed  liim.  Per- 
haps, thought  he.  at  three  o'clock,  when  wo 
were  near  the  station,  she  saw  Madame  de 
N6zel  go  into  Lilac  lane,  and  in  that  case  did 
she  wish  to  assure  herself  of  what  she  sus- 
pected ?  "Was  she  then  so  curious  and  crafty? — 
this  Denyse  whom  he  so  much  loved,  and  who 
quite  unconsciously  had  made  a  shipwreck  of 
his  life. 

He  excused  himself  for  his  tardiness  and 
helped  Bijou  into  the  carriage,  who  assured 
him  that  he  had  come  in  time.  And  then  just 
as  he  was  seeking  some  pretext  to  question  her 
she  said: 

"Do  you  know  you  are  going  to  have  your 
gardenias  for  to-morrow  ? — but  it  was  hard  to 
find  any,  I  can  tell  you.  In  order  to  get 
them  I  have  had  to  spend  part  of  the  day  in 
running  all  over  Pont-sur-Loire;  they  sent  me 
into  horrid  little  streets  where  I  got  lost  and 
where  I  couldn't  find  anything." 

Pleased  at  this  proof  of  Bijou's  innocence, 
Jean  exclaimed  unguardedly: 

"  Ah,  that  was  why  you  were  loitering  about 
in  Lilac  lane  ?" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  263 

Fixing  her  large  eyes  upon  him  in  surprise 
she  asked: 

"How  did  you  know  that?  did  you  see 
me  ?" 

"•.Not  I,"  he  replied  quickly,  "but  oue  of 
my  friends." 

"  Who  was  it  ?  do  I  know  him  ?" 

"  I  don't  think  so — he  is  one  of  the  officers 
in  Bernes  regiment.  Ah!  did  you  know  the 
poor  little  prima  donna  that  you  heard  last 
night  ?  well,  she  has  committed  suicide." 

In  a  tone  that  silenced  all  conversation  on 
the  subject  Bijou  replied:     ' 

"  Yes,  I  know  it  it's  a  great  pity." 


At  four  o'clock  Monsieur  de  Clagny  arrived 
at  Bracieux  with  a  heart  palpitating  at  the 
thought  of  again  seeing  Bijou,  and  of  seeing 
her  as  she  was  every  day,  still  fr«e  and  un- 
restrained, as  she  would  still  be  ignorant  of 
his  request.  He  was  much  disai^iiointed  then 
to  learn  that  she  was  at  Pont-sur-Loire,  and 
that  she  was  there  with  Jean.  And  as  he 
asked  the  marchioness  to  tell  him  frankly  what 
she  inferred  from  any  chance  remark  on  the 
young  girl's  part,  she  then  replied  that  she 
no  longer  dared  to  mention  the  subject,  Denyse 
having  declared  before  everybody  that  very 


2G4  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

morning  that  she  thouglit  Monsieur  de 
Clagny  charming,  but  did  not  care  to  marry 
him. 

He  received  the  shock  witliout  showing  too 
much  weakness,  and  insisted  that  Bijou  should 
be  informed  of  his  request  that  evening;  she 
would  then  have  until  to-morrow  to  reflect ; 
and  that  was  what  he  wished.  Denyse  and 
Jean  returned  just  at  dinner  time.  When 
they  came  down  every  one  was  seated  at  the 
table  and  was  talking  of  the  death  of  poor 
Lisette  Renaud;  Monsieur  de  Rueille  had  been 
out  on  horseback,,  and  had  met  some  of  the 
officers  on  campaign  duty,  who  had  given  him 
the  true  history  of  the  case. 

"It  is  terrible,"  said  Bertrade,  "to  think 
that  this  poor  little  thing  should  have  killed 
herself — she  who  was  so  young  and  so 
lovely. " 

In  a  strange  voice  that  resounded  through 
the  dining-room  Giraud  exclaimed:  "It  is 
just  when  one  is  young  that  one  should  kill 
oneself;  one  cannot  then  be  forced  to  suffer 
long." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  265 


XV. 


The  marchioness  had  not  wished  to  speak  to 
Bijou  that  evening.  She  feared  to  disturb  her 
slumbers,  and  it  was  only  on  the  morning  of 
the  following  day  that  she  sent  for  her  to 
come  to  her  room.  The  young  girl  arrived  in 
gay  spirits,  and  pouted  a  little  when  her 
grandmother  announced  that  she  had  some- 
thing very  serious  to  say  to  her. 

"It  concerns,"  began  Madame  de  Bracieux, 
"  a  great  friend  of  mine,  as  well  as  of  yours." 

"  Monsieur  de  Clagny  ?"  interrupted  Bijou. 

"  Yes,  Monsieur  de  Clagny.  You  must  have 
observed  that  he  liked  you  very  much,  haven't 
you  ?" 

"I  also  like  him  very  much — very  much, 
indeed." 

"  Of  course;  but  you  like  him  as  you  would 
a  father,  or  a  charming  uncle,  and  he  does 
not  care  for  you  as  he  would  for  a  daughter 
or  a  niece.  In  fact,  you  are  going  to  be  very 
much  surprised." 

"Surprised  at  what?"  demanded  she, 
timidly. 

"  At — he  wishes  to  marry  you." 

"He  too?"  murmured  Bijou  in  amaze- 
ment. 


266  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  he  too '  ?"  said  the 
marchioness,  likewise  in  amazement;  "who 
else  wishes  to  marry  you,  that  you  should  say 
'  he  too '  ?" 

Denyse  blushed,  and  replied: 

"I  ought  to  have  told  you  before,  grand- 
mother;" then  seating  herself  on  a  footstool 
at  Madame  de  Bracieux's  feet,  she  continued, 
"  but  everything  has  been  in  such  confusion 
lately,  with  the  paper  hunt,  the  theater,  the 
races  and  balls,  that  I  haven't  had  a  moment 
to  spare.  Besides  it  wasn't  a  matter  of  any 
great  importance." 

"  Ah,  you  think  so,  do  you  ?" 

'■'■Dame!  as  I  hadn't  any  wish  to  marry 
either  of  them." 

•'But  who?  who  do  you  mean?  of  whom 
are  you  speaking  ?" 

"  Of  Henry  and  Jean,  yes.  Jean  spoke  first 
for  Henry,  who  it  appears  had  commissioned 
him  to  find  out  if  I  would  authorize  him  to 
ask  you  for  my  hand.  I  answered  that  it  was 
you  and  not  me  whom  he  should  have  ad- 
dressed." 

"You  are  a  true  Bijou,  dear." 

' '  But  that  it  really  didn't  matter,  as  I 
didn't  wish  to  marry  him." 

"  Isn't  his  fortune  sufficient  for  you  ?" 

"As  to  that,  I  know  nothing  about  it,  and 
then,   it's  all   the  same  to    me,  for    Henry 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  ^Gt 

wouldn't  suit'me  as  a  husband  at  all.  I  know 
him  too  well." 

"Ah,  and  Jean?" 

' '  Neither  should  I  care  to  have  Jean  for  a 
husband.  That  is  what  I  told  him  when, 
after  having  seen  that  I  refused  Henry,  he 
resumed  the  affair  on  his  own  behalf." 

"They  are  going  on  finely — my  grand- 
children. Now  I  understand  why,  for  several 
days  past,  they  have  been  acting  as  if  they 
were  possessed." 

And  after  a  short  silence  the  marchioness 
concluded: 

"I  now  know  your  answer  to  my  poor 
Clagny." 

"  How  do  you  know  it  ?" 

"  Because  if  you  don't  wish  to  accept  either 
of  your  cousins,  who  are  each,  in  their  partic- 
ular style,  very  distinguished,  it  is  highly  im- 
probable that  you  should  care  to  accept  your 
grandmother's  old  friend." 

"  But  he  too  is  distinguished  ?" 

"  That  is  quite  true,  but  he  is  nearly  sixty 
years  old." 

"  He  doesn't  look  it." 

"Nevertheless  he  is." 

"  I  know  it,  but  that  fact  doesn't  prevent 
me  from  being  no  more  averse  to  marrying 
him  than  to  marrying  Jean  or  Henry." 

"You  don't  know  what  marriage  is — you 
can't  understand." 


208  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Yes,"  said  Bijou  slowly,  '*I  think  I  do, 
grandmother." 

"  All  this  isn't  telling  me  what  answer  I  am 
to  give  to  Clagny." 

"  Is  he  coming  here  to-day  ?" 

"  I  am  expecting  him  any  moment." 

She  started,  then  after  a  moment's  reflection 
said : 

"  You  can  tell  him,  grandmother,  that  I  am 
very  much  touched,  highly  flattered  that  he 
should  ever  have  thought  of  me,  but  that  I 
don't  care  about  being  married  yet  awhile." 

Then  leaning  her  head  on  her  grandmother's 
knees  she  murmured  gently: 

"  Because  I  am  so  happy  here  with  you." 

"  My  Bijou  !  my  darling  Bijou  !"  murmured 
Madame  de  Bracieux,  kissing  the  pretty  face 
held  up  to  her,  "you  know  that  you  are  my 
greatest  joy,  but  you  cannot  always  remain 
with  your  old  grandmother.  I  don't  say  this 
to  you  to  compel  you  to  make  a  marriage  that 
would  be  pure  madness." 

Denyse  raised  her  eyes  and  demanded: 

"  Madness,  but  why  ?" 

"  Because  Clagny  is  thirty-eight  years  older 
than  you,  and  because  he  will  be  on  the  wane 
when  you  are  in  your  zenith,  and  because " 

Bijou  had  arisen  on  hearing  a  carriage 
stop  before  the  door. 

Then  looking  out  of  the  window  she  ran  off 
saying: 


BIJOU'S  COailTSHIP.  JiGO 

"  Here  he  is.  " 

During  breakfast  Madame  de  Bracieux  an- 
nounced in  a  tone  of  indifference: 

"Clagny  is  going  away;  became  to  say 
good-by  to  me  this  morning." 

Bijou  suddenly  raised  her  head. 

"He  is  going  away?"  exclaimed  Jean  de 
Blaye;  "why,  he  looked  as  if  he  had  taken  root 
in  the  country. " 

"Oh,"  said  Monsieur  de  Rueille,  "father 
Clagny 's  roots  never  strike  very  deep." 

Bijou  turned  to  her  grandmother  and  anx- 
iously inquired: 

"  When  is  he  leaving  ?" 

"Why,  at  once — to-morrow,  I  believe— but 
we  shall  see  him  this  eveniug  at  Tourville.  He 
will  go  to  the  ball  to  meet  all  those  to  whom 
he  wishes  to  say  good-by." 

"  And  isn't  he  going  to  the  races?" 

' '  No,  he  will  be  engaged  in  packing  his 
trunks." 

"  And  our  review  to-morrow,"  cried  Denyse 
in  despair;  "  he  promised  me  so  many  times  to 
come  and  see  it." 

Tlie  marchioness  regarded  her  grand- 
daughter, and  thought  that  even  with  a  tender 
heart  youth  is  decidedly  without  pity. 

Bijou's  entree  to  the  Tourville's  ball  was  a 
genuine  triumph;  in  the  gown  of  rose  crepe  of 
the  hue  of  her  skin  she  was  truly  a  vision 
most  lovely  and  rare. 


2^0  BiJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Just  look  at  little  Dubuisson,"  said  Louis 
de  la  Balue  to  Monsieur  de  Juzencourt.  *'  She 
has  sought  to  resemble  ■  Mademoiselle  de 
CoiirUxix.  She  has  copied  her  toilette  exactly, 
and  see  what  she  looks  like — her  maid,  to  put 
it  mildly;   what  is  the  reason  ?" 

Monsieur  de  Juzencourt  replied  with  a 
hoarse  laugh: 

"The  reason  is  that  if  the  envelope  is  similar 
the  contents  are  not  the  same." 

"  Isn't  she  going  to  be  married  ?— little  Du- 
buisson." 

"  Yes,  she  is  going  to  marry  a  young  Hugue- 
not, who  must  be  here  in  some  corner  or 
other.  Ah! — no  he  isn't  in  any  corner;  there 
he  is  like  all  the  others  hovering  about 
Bijou." 

''And  you  ?  why  don't  you  imitate  them  ?" 

"  I — I  shall  certainly  marry,  because  some 
day  or  other  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to;  other- 
wise one's  parents  complain— on  account  of 
the  name,  you  know;  but  as  to  hovering  about 
like  a  butterfly— ah!  ma /o?',  no,  my  tastes 
don't  run  that  way. " 

And  walking  up  to  Henry  de  Bracieux,  he 
remarked : 

"  Isn't  it  hot  ?  you  are  lucky  not  to  show  it. 
Although  you  look  like  a  Hercules  you  have 
such  a  complexion." 

"Oh,  bother  my  .complexion!"  cried  Henry, 


■^„-*    .  t 


ri£««¥^!lfei5^ 


'^-^w^^^ 


The  Bride  at  the  Church. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  271 

in  a  loud,  clear  tone,  and  leaving  little  I-a 
Balue  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  he 
went  in  search  of  Jean  de  Blaye,  who  from  a 
distance  was  mournfully  regarding  Bijou,  be- 
wildered in  a  maze  of  dances  for  which  six 
suitors  at  a  time  were  greedily  clamoring. 

When  Monsieur  de  Clagny  approached  wish- 
ing to  greet  Denyse,  she  said,  without  even 
returning  his  salutation: 

' '  Grandmother  told  me  that  you  were  going 
away.     I  am  sure  it  is  on  my  account." 

He  bowed  in  assent.  Then  she  took  his 
arm,  and  drawing  him  into  an  almost  deserted 
room,  she  implored: 

"I  beg  of  you — I  beg  of  you,  don't  go 
away!" 

Greatly  moved  he  replied: 

"I  beg  you  in  my  turn.  Bijou,  not  to  ask 
impossibilities  of  me.  I  have  not  been  able 
to  see  you  without  becoming  as  mad  as  the 
others.  I  have  been  dreaming,  as  madmen 
dream.  Now,  that  all  is  over,  I  must  try  and 
become  sane  once  more,  and  forget  my  dream; 
and  in  order  to  do  that  I  must  go  far  away, 
very  far  away. " 

"  Did  you  think  that — that  I  would  say  yes  ?" 
she  demanded. 

"You  were  alwaj"s  so  good  to  me,  so  delight- 
fully sweet  and  confiding,  that  I  had  hoped— 
Mon  Dieu !  yes — that  perhaps  you  would 
allow  yourself  to  be  loved. " 


272  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Then,"  said  she  thoughtfully,  "  it  was  my 
fault  that  you  entertained  such  a  hope." 

"It  wasn't  your  fault;  it  was  mine.  One 
holies  for  what  one  longs  for." 

"Yes,  I  am  sure  I  have  acted  toward  you 
as  I  should  not  have  done." 

Her  eyes  filled  with  tears  and  she  murmured 
very  gently: 

"  I  beg  your  pardon " 

"Bijou!"  cried  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  quite 
overcome,  "  my  Bijou!  it  is  I  who  ought  to 
beg  your  pardon  for  having  made  you  sad, 
even  for  a  moment." 

"Well,  then,  be  good;  don't  go  away,  at 
least  not  to-morrow.  Promise  me  that  you 
will  come  to  Bracieux  to-morrow,  to  see  us  act 
our  review.     Oh,  don't  say  no!" 

And  fixing  her  beautiful  luminous  gaze  upon 
him,  she  added: 

"  You  will  not  regret  having  come." 

Then,  stopping  Jean  de  Blaye,  who  was 
passing  by,  she  begged  him  coaxingly: 

"Won't  you  ask  me  to  waltz,  please,  you 
waltz  so  well." 

And,  leaning  on  his  arm,  she  disappeared 
under  Pierrot's  very  nose,  just  as  he  was  run- 
ning up  to  claim  his  waltz, 

"Let  your  cousin  alone,"  said  Monsieur  de 
Jonzac,  who,  seated  on  a  divan,  was  watching 
them  dance.     "  You  are  much  too  young  to 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  273 

ask  young  girls  to  dance  with  you;  I  mean 
girls  who  are  really  young  like  Bijou." 

' '  Ah,  and  at  what  age  can  I  ask  them  ?  not 
exactly  at  yours,  I  suppose  ?" 

"  You  have  a  very  queer  way  of  talking." 

"  It  was  very  stupid  of  me  to  come  here, 
instead  of  staying  with  Monsieur  Giraud  and 
Monsieur  I'Abb^." 

"Ah!  in  fact,  why  didn't  Monsieur  Giraud 
come  ?  Bijou  asked  for  an  invitation  for 
him." 

"  Yes,  but  he  didn't  care  to.  He  has  been 
very  sad  for  a  long  time;  he  eats  nothing,  he 
never  sleeps  any  more;  instead  of  going  to 
bed  he  spends  the  night  in  walking  on  the 
banks  of  the  Loire." 

"  Do  you  know  what  is  the  cause  ?" 

"I  think  it  is  Bijou." 

*'  What  do  you  mean  by  '  Bijou '  ?" 

"  Yes — like  Jean,  like  Henry,  like  Paul. 
You  know,  papa,  that  they  are  all  running  after 
lier,  s''pas — without  saying  anything  about 
Father  Clagny,  who  doesn't  count." 

He  paused  for  a  moment  and  concluded  with 
a  mournful  air: 

"And  myself,  for  I  also  don't  count." 

"  You  are  greatly  exaggerating,"  said  Mon- 
sieur de  Jonzac,  quite  convinced  that  his  son 
was  right,  but  not  wishing  to  agree  with  him. 
"  Bijou  is  certainly  very  pretty,  and  it  isn't 
surprising  that " 


274  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

Pierrot  interrupted  him  quickly,  exclaim- 
ing: 

"  It  isn't  only  that  she  is  pretty!  She  is  so 
kind,  and  clever,  and  gay,  and  everything. 
One  has  every  reason  to  like  her,  haven't  they 
now,  papa  ?  and  if  I  were  only  twenty-five  !" 

"If  you  were  twenty-five,  ray  poor  little 
man,  she  would  treat  you  just  as  she  does  the 
others." 

"  That  is  quite  possible,"  replied  Pierrot 
philosophically,  but  none  the  less  chagrined. 

Then  pointing  to  Bijou,  who  was  standing 
in  the  middle  of  the  room  talking  with  Jeanne 
Dubuisson,  he  said: 

"  Isn't  she  pretty,  hem,  papa  ?  Look  at  her. 
She  is  dressed  exactly  like  Jeanne.  Their  gowns 
are  precisely  the  same,  '  stitch  for  stitch,'  as 
Mother  Rafut  says.  I  am  sure  if  you  were  to 
mix  them  up,  when  they  were  off,  you  couldn't 
tell  one  from  another  afterward,  while  in  this 
way — when  they're  on  them — why,  they  don't 
resemble  each  other  in  the  least.  Oh!  I  say, 
,  papa,  do  you  think  I  might  venture  to  ask 
I  Jeanne  Dubuisson  to  dance  ?" 

^'■Mafoi!  yes.  She  is  kind-hearted  enough 
to  accept." 

She  did  accept,  in  fact,  and  went  off  on 
Pierrot's  arm.  Then  Monsieur  Spiegel  came 
up  to  Denyse,  and  asked  her  for  the  waltz  that 
was  just  beginning,  but  shaking  her  head  she 
replied: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  375 

"  I  am  so  tired,  if  you  only  knew!" 

Still  he  insisted,  saying: 

"Only  give  me  one  turn,  won't  you?  ever 
since  the  beginning  of  the  evening  I  have 
been  unable  to  get  even  one  little  waltz  with 
you." 

"No,  I  beg  of  you,"  she  answered,  "I 
should  like  to  rest,  I " 

Then  suddenly  changing  her  tactics,  she  ex- 
claimed: 

"  Well,  no!  I  feel  that  I  am  fibbing  badly. 
I  am  not  at  all  tired,  but  I  don't  wish  to  waltz 
with  you,  because " 

"Well,  because?" 

"Because  I  am  afraid  of  making  Jeanne 
feel  badly,  so  there  it  is  !" 

"  Making  Jeanne  feel  badly,"  he  repeated  in 
surprise,  "but  why?" 

"What  I  am  going  to  say  to  you  may 
sound  very  conceited,  but  I  must  say  it  all  the 
same.  Well,  I  think  that  Jeanne  adores  you 
to  such  an  extent  that  she  is  jealous  of  any 
one  who  comes  near  you,  or  speaks  to  you,  or 
who  even  looks  at  you." 

With  raised  eyebrows,  his  gentle  face  sud- 
denly grown  stern,  Monsieur  Spiegel  de- 
manded in  displeasure: 

"Did  she  tell  you  so?" 

Bijou  replied  with  the  constrained  and 
awkward  haste  of  one  who  sees  herself 
obliged  to  lie; 


27(5  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"Why,  no;  why,  no;  it  was  I  who  guessed 
it  without  being  told.  I  love  Jeaune  so  dear- 
ly, don't  you  see,  that  I  can  divine  all  her 
thoughts,  and  I  should  be  so  unhappy  to  cause 
her  any  trouble,  or  even  a  shadow  of  anxiety. 
Do  you  understand  what  I  am  telling  you  ?" 

"I  understand  that  you  are  an  angel  of 
goodness,  mademoiselle,  and  that  those  who 
love  you  are  quite  right  in  doing  so. " 

Bijou,  with  her  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground, 
breathing  with  some  effort,  her  color  suddenly 
deepening  and  with  slightly  quivering  nostrils, 
listened  to  the  young  professor  w'ithout  mak- 
ing any  reply. 

Then  putting  his  arm  around  her  waist,  and 
seizing  the  soft  little  hand  confided  to  his 
care,  he  drew  her  into  the  midst  of  the 
dancers.  Monsieur  Spiegel  waltzed  charm- 
ingly a  trots  temps ;  so  a  vision  in  rose  with 
half-closed  eyes,  and  parted  lips  revealing 
her  dazzling  little  teeth,  her  waist  encircled 
by  the  young  man's  arm,  she  flew  around  as 
long  as  the  orchestra  continued  to  play.  Many 
times  without  seeing  her  she  passed  bj' 
Jeanne,  tossed  about  by  Pierrot,  who  trod 
upon  her  feet,  and  pounded  her  up  recklessly 
against  any  piece  of  furniture  that  chanced  to 
intervene.  And  when,  at  intervals,  Jeanne 
paused  to  take  breath,  Pierrot  talked  to  her 
volubly  about  sports  of  which  she  knew 
absolutely  nothing. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  277 

"You  see,"  said  he  proudly,  advancing  his 
enormous  foot  and  formidable  knee,  ' '  I'm  not 
much  of  a  dancer,  but  I'm  a  splendid  football 
player.  Our  school  team  is  coming  this 
winter  to  have  a  match  with  the  Pont-sur- 
Loire  team.  You  ought  to  see  it.  It's  going 
to  be  very  chic.  As  to  me,  I  am  full-back, 
and  you  will  see  some  fine  touch-downs." 

As  Jeanne,  without  replying,  followed  her 
fiance  with  an  anxious  eye,  who  passed  and 
repassed  before  her,  delighted  to  guide  Bijou 
in  this  sweet  and  rapid  whirl,  he  asked: 

"lam  boring  you — I  know;  will  you  take 
another  turn  ?" 

"Fo,"  said  she,  in  a  changed  voice,  "I 
don't  feel  very  well.  I  am  too  warm.  Will 
you  take  me  to  papa,  who  is  playing  over 
there  ?    I  should  like  to  go  home." 

While  they  went  to  fiud  the  placid  Monsieur 
Dubuisson,  Bijou  stopped  Monsieur  Spiegel 
beside  the  orchestra  and  said  laughingly: 

"  Why,  you  are  really  wild  about  it,  but  I 
must  have  a  moment  to  breathe  in — besides 
the  waltz  is  ended." 

She  regarded  the  four  unhappy  musicians, 
pitiable  to  behold,  with  their  shining  coats, 
their  rumpled  shirts,  and  their  streaming 
foreheads,  then  suddenly  exclaimed : 

"Ah!  Monsieur  Sylvestre  !  good-evening, 
Monsieur  Sylvestre;  ah!  really,  I  never  ex- 
pected to  see  yoa  here," 


278  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

The  poor  youth  suddenly  raised  his  head, 
and  murmured,  while  fixing  his  eyes  on  Bijou — 
eyes  of  a  tender  blue,  where  could  be  read  an 
infinite  distress: 

"Nor  did  I,  mademoiselle,  expect  to  meet 
you  here." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  279 


XVI. 

Bijou,  after  having  gone  to  bed  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  slept  for  two  hours, 
and  still,  when  she  entered  the  marchioness' 
room  the  next  morning,  she  was  as  fresh  as  if 
she  had  slept  the  whole  night  through. 

"  Grandmother,"  said  she,  "  I  have  reflected 
a  good  deal  since  yesterday." 

"About  what?" 

"About  what  Monsieur  de  Clagny  asked 
you  to  say  to  me." 

"Ah!"  said  Madame  de  Bracieux,  annoyed 
at  having  this  matter  again  come  up  when 
she  had  thought  it  quite  disposed  of.  For 
somewhat  selfish,  like  almost  all  old  peo- 
ple, she  judged  it  useless  to  discuss  sad  and 
painful  subjects  unless  to  give  relief. 

"  I  have  been  reflecting,"  continued  Bijou, 
"  and  then  last  night  at  the  ball  I  saw  Mon- 
sieur de  Clagny." 

"And — the  result  of  these  reflections  and  of 
this  interview?"  inquired  the  marchioness  with 
some  anxiety. 

"  Is  that  I  have  changed  my  mind, " 

"  What  is  that  you  are  saying  ?" 


280  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"I  mean  to  say  that,  with  your  permission, 
I  will  marry  Monsieur  de  Clagny." 

"Come  now!  you  won't,  really." 

"And  why  not?" 

"  Because  it  would  be  madness." 

"  Why,  no,  grandmother;  on  the  contrary  it 
would  be  very  sensible.  If  I  don't  marry  him, 
I  shall  never  again  in  my  life  have  a  moment's 
peace." 

"But  why?" 

"  Because  I  saw  that  he  was  profoundly  and 
fearfully  unhappy." 

"  Evidently— but  that  won't  last." 

"Yes,  I  am  sure  that  it  will;  and  I  have  al- 
ready told  you  that  I  liked  Monsieur  de  Clagny 
more  than  I  have  ever  liked  anybody  except 
yourself.  So,  then,  the  idea  of  his  being  made 
unhappy  through  me,  and  possibly  to  a  certain 
extent  through  my  own  fault,  would  be  terrible 
to  me,  and  would  render  me  far  more  un- 
happy than  he." 

"But  you  would  be  still  more  so  if  you 
were  to  marry  him.     Listen  to  me,  my  Bijou." 

"No,"  said  Bijou,  stopping  Madame  de 
Bracieux,  as  she  wished  to  speak  further. 
"  Say  no  more,  grandmother — for  I  have  de- 
cided, quite  decided,  to  become  the  wife  of 
Monsieur  de  Clagny,  whom  I  tenderly  love." 

And  as  the  marchioness  made  a  gesture  of 
dissent,  she  repeated  firmly: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  281 

"Yes,  tenderly,  and  the  proof  is,  that  the 
throught  of  marrying  him  does  not  frighten 
me,  while  the  idea  of  marrying  any  other  man 
causes  me  a  feeling  of  repulsion." 

Then  kneeling  down  before  the  marchioness, 
she  murmured: 

"Say  that  you  consent,  grandmother;  say 
it,  I  beg  of  you. " 

"  You  will  soon  be  twenty-two,  and  I  can- 
not control  you  as  if  you  were  a  little  girl.  So, 
then,  I  consent,  but  without  any  enthusiasm, 
I  can  tell  you;  and  I  implore  you  to  reflect 
further,  my  Bijou;  for,  urged  by  your  kind 
heart,  and  tender  pity,  you  are  about  to  com- 
mit an  irreparable  error." 

"  I  have  no  need  to  reflect  further.  I  have 
done  nothing  else  since  yesterday,  and  I  know 
that  in  this  alone  shall  I  find  happiness,  or  at 
least  what  most  nearly  resembles  it.  You 
won't  mention  this  to  any  one,  will  you,  grand- 
mother ?" 

' '  Ah !  Seigneur!  You  may  rest  easy  on  that 
score;  if  you  think  that  I  am  in  any  hurry  to 
announce  such  a  marriage,  to  behold  every 
one's  expression  of  horror  and  amazement, 
you  are  mistaken,  my  darling." 

"Above  all,  say  nothing  to  Monsieur  de 
Clagny.  I  shall  take  such  pleasure  in  telling 
him  myself,  this  evening." 

"  But  he  told  me  that  he  wasn't  coming." 


282  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  He  has  promised  me  to  do  so." 
Then  raising  her  bright  face  she  added: 
"  And  now  I  must  go  and  attend  to  the  dec- 
orations, and    to  the   footlights,  which  won't 
light,  and  to  my  costume,  which  isn't  finished." 
The  marchioness  took   Bijou's  head   in  her 
beautiful  hands,  still  soft  and  white,  and  re- 
plied, while  embracing  her: 

"  Go,  and  may  heaven  forbid  that  we  should 
ever  have  cause  to  regret — you  your  goodness 
in  consenting,  and  I  my  weakness  in  yielding." 

The  Dubuissons  and  Monsieur  Spiegel  had 
promised  to  come  at  four  o'clock;  there  was 
still  one  scene  to  rehearse  that  did  not  go  well. 

Bijou,  who  was  engaged  in  gathering  flowers, 
went  to  meet  the  cab  in  which  they  came,  and 
was  surprised  to  see  only  Jeanne  and  her 
father. 

"  What  have  you  done  with  Monsieur  Spie- 
gel?" she  inquired: 

It  was  Monsieur  Dubuisson  who  replied 
with  embarrassment: 

"He  is  coming — he  is  coming  with  your 
cousin  De  Rueille,  who  was  at  Pont-sur-Loire 
and  offered  to  bring  him." 

"  Don't  disturb  your  grandmother,"  said 
Jeanne.  ' '  Papa  isn't  coming  in  now ;  he  has  his 
treatise  to  prepare,  and  he  will  do  it  while  he 
is  taking  a  walk  in  the  park." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  283 

And  as  soon  cas  Monsieur  Dubuisson  had 
gone  away  she  resumed: 

"  If  Monsieur  Spiegel  and  I  had  no  parts  in 
the  review,  and  if  we  were  not  afraid  of  spoil- 
ing everything,  we  wouldn't  have  come." 

"  You  wouldn't  have  come  ?"  said  Bijou,  in 
astonishment,  "  and  pray  why  no  t?" 

"  Because  we  are  in  a  very  false  and  ridic- 
ulous position." 

"Are  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  we  are;  our  marriage  has  been  broken 
off." 

"Broken  off!"  repeated  Bijou,  iu  conster- 
nation; "broken  off.  and  why." 

Very  calmly,  but  with  downcast  eyes, 
Jeanne  replied: 

"  Because  I  was  sure  that  he  loved  me  but 
little,  or  not  at  all — so  then  I  told  him  this 
morning  that  I  had  not  sufficient  courage  to 
accept  the  life  of  suffering  that  I  foresaw,  and 
I  released  him  from  his  engagement." 

'■'■  Mon  Dleu!  is  it  possible  you  have  done 
this — and  that  you  don't  regret  it  ?" 

"  Not  at  all.  I  am  very  unhappy,  but  more 
calm." 

Bijou  looked  her  full  in  the  eye  and  asked: 

"Audit  is — it  is  on  my  account,  isn't  it? 
on  account  of  Monsieur  Spiegel's  attentions 
to  me  that  you  have  broken  it  off  ?" 

As  Jeanne  made  a  gesture  of  assent,  Bijou 
resumed: 


284  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

"  Then  you  really  thought  that  your  fiancS 
was  making  love  to  rae  ?" 

"That  he  was  making  love  to  you— perhaps 
not— but  certainly  that  he  was  in  love  with 
you." 

"  Well,  eveu  so." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  even  so'  ?" 

"  Why,  it  couldn't  lead  to  anything." 

"  Yes,  to  suffering,  and,  perhaps,  to  hop- 
ing." 

"  Hoping — to  marry  me  ?" 

"  No  !  yes,  I  can't  tell — to  hoping  vaguely — 
I  don't  know  what." 

"And  do  you  think  that  I  can  bear  the 
thought  of  being  the  cause,  though  quite  an 
involuntary  one,  of  your  unhappiness  ?" 

"  It  isn't  in  your  power  to  change  what 
exists. " 

Bijou  appeared  to  reflect,  then  said: 

"  And  if  I  were  going  to  be  married  ?" 

Then  concealing  her  face  in  her  hands,  she 
continued  in  broken  tones: 

' '  Monsieur  de  Clagny  wishes  to  marry 
me." 

"Monsieur  de  Clagny?"  said  Jeanne, 
amazed;  "  why  Monsieur  de  Clagny  is  sixty." 

"  I  had  said  no — I  am  going  to  say  yes." 

"  You  are  mad." 

"  Not  the  least  in  the  world.  I  am  practical. 
The  remedy  is  perhaps  a  little  hard,  but  it 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  285 

can't  be  helped.  I  love  you,  my  dear  Jeanne, 
and  the  thought  of  seeing  you  unhappy  fills 
me  with  terror." 

' '  I  assure  you  that  even  if  you  were  to 
marry  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  I  would  not  marry 
Monsieur  Spiegel.  He  has  said  so  many  un- 
pleasant things  to  me  that  come  what  may  I 
shall  never  forget  them." 

"  Unpleasant  things  ?  about  what  ?" 

"  About  my  jealousy — he  has  told  me  that 
it  was  ridiculous — and  still,  I  had  never  com- 
plained. I  concealed  my  Jealousy  from  him 
as  well  as  I  could.  Only  last  night  at  the  ball, 
as  I  felt  ill,  I  asked  papa  to  take  me  away,  and 
he  was  displeased;  he  thought  that  I  was 
sulky." 

"All  that  will  be  forgotten." 

"No,  you  see.  Bijou,  that  you  would  be 
committing  the  worst  of  follies  in  marrying  an 
old  man." 

"  An  old  man  !  That's  absurd  !  Monsieur 
de  Clagny  doesn't  impress  me  at  all  as  an  old 
man.  I  should  certainly  prefer  to  marry  a 
younger  man  and  one  who  would  quite  suit 
me,  but  still " 

Jeanne  put  her  arm  around  Bijou's  neck, 
and  kissing  her,  said: 

"You  will  wait  quietly  for  the  one  who 
'  quite  suits  you;'  you  have  plenty  of  time." 

"  No,  I  have  quite  decided;  all  that  you  can 


280  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

say  now  would  be  useless,  and  in  spite  of  all 
that  3'ou  say,  when  the  cause  of  your  little 
quarrel  shall  have  disappeared,  the  quarrel 
itself  will  disappear.  Come,  kiss  me  again, 
and  tell  me  that  you  love  me." 

"  Well,"  said  Jean  de  Blaye,  who  had  just 
arrived  with  Monsieur  Spiegel,  "are  you 
ready  ?  are  we  going  to  rehearse  ?" 

In  the  last  few  days  he  had  become  nervous, 
reckless,  requiring  to  be  amused,  trying  to 
keep  himself  from  thinking. 

Quickly  drying  her  eyes,  Denyse  replied 
yery  quietly: 

"Why,  yes,  we  are  ready;  we  were  only 
waiting  for  you." 

And  gracefully  and  unaffectedly  she  gave 
Monsieur  Spiegel  her  little  hand,  which  he 
kissed,  saying: 

"You  are  not  too  tired  after  having  been 
up  so  late,  mademoiselle  ?" 

Then  involuntarily  regarding  Mademoiselle 
Dubuisson's  slightly  sallow  complexion,  he 
added: 

' '  You  are  even  fresher  than  you  were  yes- 
terday." 

Jeanne  went  up  to  Bijou,  and  looking  at  the 
pi'ofessor,  said  to  her,  with  an  expression  of 
intense  grief  in  her  sweet  eyes: 

"  You  see,  your  remedy  would  be  quite  use- 
less— he  is  incurable." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  28'? 

The  little  review  was  acted  before  a  numer- 
ous and  Iiigiiiy  appreciiitive  audience.  Bijou 
was  so  beautiful  in  her  Hebe  costume,  so 
virginal,  so  pure,  so  delightful  to  look  at,  that 
after  the  play,  when  she  wished  to  go  and  put 
on  a  ball  gown,  they  all  begged  her  to  remain 
just  as  she  was. 

As  she  was  running  away  into  a  little  room, 
in  order  to  avoid  the  compliments  of  the 
guests,  slio  was  stopped  by  Monsieur  de 
Rueille,  who  said  in  a  bitter  tone: 

' '  So  this  is  the  costume  that  was  going  to 
be  very  proper  ?  this  costume  that  to  please 
me  you  were  going  to  ask  John  to  change  ?" 

And  as  Jean  came  up  with  Henry  de 
Bracieux  and  Pierrot,  he  thus  addressed  him, 
ironically: 

"Accept  my  compliments!  You  seem  to 
thoroughly  understand  the  art  of  slightly 
draping  pretty  women;  only,  in  your  place, 
where  women,  and  above  all,  young  girls,  of 
my  own  family  were  concerned,  I  should  make 
more  respectful  designs." 

After  having  carefully  regarded  Bijou,  Jean 
replied : 

"  I  don't  know  what's  come  over  you.  The 
costume  is  charming  and  altogether  unobjec- 
tionable." 

Bijou  now  intervened: 

*'  Besides,"  said  she  gently,  "  there  are  only 


iita  BlJOU'ri  COUKTbHlP. 

three  people  who  have  any  right  to  concern 
themselves  about  my  costume — grandmother, 
myself,  or  my  husband." 

"If  you  had  one?" 

*'  Yes,  eh  bien  !  I  am  going  to  have  one." 

Jean  de  Blaye  shrugged  his  shoulders  in- 
credulously, and  Bijou  resumed: 

"I  assure  you  that  it  is  quite  true.  I  am 
going  to  be  married." 

"  To  whom  ?"  asked  Monsieur  de  Rueille 
anxiously. 

"Ah,  that's  a  good  joke,"  said  Pierrot. 

"  Who  are  you  going  to  marry?"  demanded 
Henry  de  Bracieux;  "  who  is  it  ?" 

Then,  taking  the  arm  of  Monsieur  de 
Clagny,  who  had  just  entered,  she  said  in  a 
jesting  tone: 

"  I  am  going  to  tell  Monsieur  de  Clagny." 

And  turning  to  him,  she  added: 

"  Only  we  will  go  outside,  for  I  am  smother- 
ing hce." 

Following  Bijou's  pink  peplum  with  his  eyes, 
Pierrot  murmured: 

"Isn't  she  aesthetic  this  evening!  Monsieur 
Gira-/d  ought  to  find  her  perfect,  as  he  has 
always  said  that  she  wasn't  formed  for  modern 
costumes." 

"Oh!— in  fact— where,  then,  is  Giraud  ?" 
asked  Jean  de  Blaye.  "  He  disappeared  right 
after  dinner  and  hasn't  been  seen  since." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  289 

Pierrot  explained  that  he  must  have  gone  for 
A  walk  on  the  banks  of  the  Loire,  as  he  was  in 
the  habit  of  doing  every  evening;  besides  he 
was  getting  more  and  more  peculiar  and  sub- 
ject to  sudden  fits  of  gayety  or  melancholy. 

On  that  very  morning  he  had  left  the  study 
to  go  to  Madame  de  Bracieux's  room,  who 
had  sent  for  him  to  translate  an  English  letter; 
and  then  he  hadn't  come  back  for  a  long  time 
afterward,  explaining  that  he  had  not  dared  to 
knock  at  the  door,  because  he  had  heard  the 
marchioness  talking  with  Mademoiselle  Denyse. 
.t_nd  from  that  moment  he  hadn't  said  a  word. 

"Where  the  deuce  has  he  gone  ?"  asked  Jean 
■de  Blaye. 

Imitating  the  little  merchants  of  the  boule- 
vards, Pierrot  exclaimed,  with  a  nasal  inflec- 
tion: 

"  Ou  est  le  Bulgare,  cherchez  le  Bulgare.'''' 

When  she  was  alone  with  Monsieur  de  CI"',gny, 
under  the  great  trees,  Bijou  said,  very  gently: 

"  I  came  home  this  morning,  feeling  very  un- 
happy to  have  caused  you  grief.  I  thought  that 
perhaps  I  had  been  too  affectionate,  too  uiire. 
strained — that  I  had  made  you  think  what 
wasn't  so.     Isn't  it  true  ?" 

"  It  is  true.  Then  you  have  no  affection  for 
me  at  all  ?" 

"  You  know  very  well  that  I  have." 


^OO  BIJOU'S  COLliTSlllP. 

"I  mean  to  say  that  you  liko  me  as  you 
ivould  some  old  relation  ?" 

"Better  than  that." 

"  In  fact,  you  don't  care  enough  for  me  to — 
to  love  me  as  a  husband  ?" 

"  I  don't  know.  I  am  explaining  how  I  feci 
toward  you  very  badly.  AVhen  I  first  saw  you 
I  thought  you  very  handsome,  very  charming, 
too;  and  since  then  I  have  felt,  when  you  were 
present,  as  if  I  were  inhaling  an  atmosphere  of 
gentle  tenderness.  I  seem  to  breathe  more 
freely.  I  am  gayer,  happier  then;  and  never, 
never  have  I  felt  like  that  before. " 

Much  rnoved  by  what  she  was  saying,  anx- 
ious also  as  to  what  she  had  yet  to  say,  the 
count,  without  replying,  pressed  Bijou's  arm. 

"Then,"  she  resumed,  "I  thought  that,  as 
I  loved  you  more  than  I  had  ever  loved  any- 
one else,  and  as,  besides,  I  should  never  be 
consoled  for  having  caused  you  so  much  sor- 
row, that  the  best  way  was  to  marry  you." 

"Monsieur  de  Clagny  stopped  short,  and 
asked,  with  a  choking  voice: 

"  Then  you  consent  ?" 

"Yes." 

"My  darling!  my  darling!"  he  murmured. 

"  I  said  so  to  grandmother  this  morning," 
continued  Bijou,  "and  I  must  confess  slie 
didn't  seem  to  be  vei'y  much  pleased,  and  she 
did  all  that  she  could  to  make  me  change  my 
mind." 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  291 

"  I  can  understand  that." 

"  She  thinks  that  it  is  madness  in  you,  and 
in  me,  to  marry  when  there  is  such  a  dispro- 
portion of  age.  And  then — she  didn't  say  so, 
but  I  could  vci-y  well  see  that  something  was 
worrying  her — that  troubles  me  in  a  much  less 
degree." 

"And  that  is " 

"The  disproportion  of  fortunes.  It  appears 
that  you  are  awfully  rich.  Grandmother  said 
so  yesterday  when  she  told  me  that  you  had 
asked  for  my  hand." 

"What  difference  does  it  make,  my  Bijou, 
whether  I  am  a  little  more  or  less  rich  ?" 

"  It  makes  a  great  deal  of  difference,  above 
all,  with  grandmother's  ideas.  Oh  !  not  that 
she  thinks  it  humiliating  for  me  to  be  married 
without  anything  myself,  for  I  have  nothing 
in  comparison  with  you.  No,  she  looks  upon 
marriage  as  a  partnership  or  an  exchange  of 
values.  Give  me  what  you  have  and  I  will 
give  you  what  I  have.  You  have  your  name, 
which  is  a  good  one,  and  your  money,  which  is 
considerable.  I  have  my  name,  which  is  suf- 
ficiently attractive,  and  my  youth,  which  de- 
cidedly counts  for  something." 

"Well,  then,  in  what  way  does  the  dispro- 
portion of  our  fortunes  distress  your  grand- 
mother ?" 

"Ah !  there  it  is.     She  adores  me — grand- 


292  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

mother,  and  she  calculates  that  as  I  am  thirty- 
eight  years  younger  than  you,  you  might  die 
before  me;  and  that,  after  having  lived  in  very 
great  luxury  for  many  years,  after  being  ac- 
customed to  a  condition  of  excessive  ease,  to 
which  I  am  so  far  unfamiliar,  I  should  find 
myself  but  badly  off  and  very  unhappy  at  an 
age  where  one  cannot  begin  their  life  anew  and 
when  one  suffers  from  the  effect  of  certain 
habits  which  they  cannot  readily  renounce." 

"  You  must  understand  perfectly,  my  adored 
Bijou,  that  everything  that  I  possess  will  be 
yours.  My  will  is  already  made,  in  which  I 
give  you  everything,  even  if  you  were  never  to 
become  my  wife." 

"  Oh  !  she  says  that  a  will  may  be  destroyed." 

"  If  your  grandmother  prefers  it,  I  will  settle 
everything  on  you  in  our  marriage  contract." 

Bijou  began  to  laugh. 

"Then  she  will  imagine  that  we  may  be  di- 
vorced, and  that  a  divorce  renders  any  previous 
settlements  null." 

"And  if  I  acknowledge  in  the  contract  that 
half  of  what  I  possess  is  yours,  and  if,  besides, 
I  give  the  remainder,  reserving  only  the  in- 
terest." 

Bijou  shook  her  head,  and  with  a  sudden 
movement,  full  of  coaxing  tenderness,  and 
►winding  her  pretty  fresh  arms  around  Monsieur 
de  Clagny's  neck,  she  said  to  him: 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  293 

"  I  only  ask  happiness  of  you,  and  of  that  I 
am  sure  you  will  give  me  sufficient.  I  sincerely 
hope  that  you  will  live  for  a  long,  long  time. 
And  what  will  it  matter  to  me  if,  when  T  am 
old,  I  shall  find  myself  relatively  poor  again  ?" 

Covering  Denyse's  face  and  hair  with  pas- 
sionate kisses,  he  replied: 

"And  as  to  me,  I  could  never  survive  the 
thought  that  death  might  overtake  me  without 
your  future  being  assured  as  I  wish  it  to  be." 

"Do  not  speak  of  such  things,"  she  mur- 
mured. "  I  like  to  think  that  I  shall  never 
leave  you  more — never." 

Striving  in  the  darkness  to  look  into  Bijou's 
eyes,  he  anxiously  demanded: 

"  Do  you  think  that  you  could  ever  love  me 
a  little — as  I  love  you?" 

Without  replying,  she  put  up  her  mouth,  and 
at  this  moment  a  noise  of  voices  suddenly  sep- 
arated them.  At  a  distance  of  a  few  yards 
several  people  were  talking  in  low  tones,  and 
the  dull,  measured  tread  of  feet  could  be  heard 
as  if  quitefnear  them,  and  a  heavy  weight  were 
being  borne.  Lights  passed  in  the  darkness, 
and  Monsieur  de  Clagny  exclaimed: 

"It  is  very  strange;  one  would  say  some- 
thing had  happened." 

But  Bijou,  who  had  stopped,  her  heart  beat- 
ing hurriedly  in  her  anxiety,  likewise  impressed 
with  the  strangeness  of  this  procession,  holding 


294  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 

the  count  back  by  the  arm,  now  quietly  re- 
plied : 

"  Why,  no;  they  are  some  people  returning 
from  the  farm.  They  are  now  employed  at 
the  castle  during  the  day,  and  when  they  have 
eaten,  they  go  back  home." 

"  It  seemed  to  me,  on  the  contrary,  that 
those  with  the  lanterns  were  going  toward  the 
castle." 

She  had  again  taken  his  arm,  and  once  more 
he  trembled  with  joy,  as  he  pressed  to  his  side 
the  pretty  creature  who  had  promised  to  give 
herself  to  him.  They  came  back  slowly  by 
way  of  the  avenues,  and  passed  many  car- 
riages that  were  taking  away  the  guests. 

"Oh!"  said  Bijou,  in  surprise,  "'they  are 
going  away  already;  and  the  cotillon  !  Is  it 
very  late  ?" 

As  they  reached  the  front  door  they  en- 
countered the  La  Balues,  who  were  getting  into 
their  carriage,  and  Denyse  inquired  in  sur- 
prise: 

"  What  ?  Are  you  going  away  ?  But  why, 
then  ?" 

Monsieur  de  la  Balue  muttered  some  un- 
intelligible words,  while  his  son  and  daughter 
shook  hands  sadly  with^Bijou. 

And  Monsieur  de  Clagny,  beginning  to  be 
anxious,  exclaimed: 

"They  are  acting  very  strangely.  Ah! 
what  is  that  there  ?" 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  395 

In  the  vestibule,  where  a  large  pool  of  water 
was  streaming  over  the  floor,  some  servants 
were  goitig  and  coming  hurriedly  and  fear- 
fully, and  Pierrot  appeared,  his  eyes  filled 
with  tears  and  his  hands  full  of  flowers;  Ma- 
dame de  Rueille  following  him  and  also  carry- 
ing some  flowers.  Bijou  stopped  short,  speech- 
less, but  Monsieur  de  Clagny  ran  up  to  the 
young  woman  and  demanded: 

"  What  has  hapi^ened  ?" 

"Monsieur  Giraud  has  drowned  hioseiZ,'* 
replied  Bertrade.  "  Yes,  Monsieur  Gii'aud  has 
drowned  himself — they  have  just  brought  him 
in — it  was  the  miller  who  found  him  ni^ar  the 
mill  dam. 

And  as  Pierrot  regai'ded  her  in  consterna- 
tion, the  flowers  trembling  in  his  long  arms, 
she  added,  in  a  hard  voice: 

"Oh!  yes,  I  know;  grandmother  has  forbid- 
den it  to  be  mentioned  before  Bijou,  but  1 — 
I  wished  that  she  should  know  it." 


296  BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP. 


XVII. 

As  SHE  was  waiting  at  tlie  church  door  for 
Uncle  Alexis  to  rejoin  her,  Bijou  turned 
around,  pushed  back  her  long  white  satin 
train,  and  drawing  the  folds  of  her  veil  about 
her,  gave  a  swift  glance  at  the  brilliant  mul- 
titude pressing  toward  the  portal;  that 
luminous  and  searching  glance  that  nothing 
could  escape.  And  first  of  all,  the  tall  form 
met  her  view  of  Jean  de  Blaye,  advancing 
with  a  weary  and  indifferent  air,  conversing 
with  his  cousin,  De  Rueille,  who,  in  his  turn, 
seemed  nervous  and  constrained.  Henry  de 
Bracieux,  with  irritated  air,  was  listening  to 
the  marchioness  abstractedly,  while  she  was 
giving  orders  to  the  grooms.  Pierrot,  whose 
coat  had  caught  in  the  carriage  door,  en- 
deavored to  release  it  with  his  huge  hands 
encased  in  snowy  gloves,  but  all  to  no  avail. 
With  conscious,  hurried  air,  a  monstrous  roll 
of  music  in  his  hand.  Monsieur  Sylvestre  was 
seen  plunging  into  the  dark  shadows  of  the 
staircase  that  led  upward  to  the  gallery,  and 
the  Abbe  Courteil,  with  his  two  pupils,  one 
on  either  side,  now  rapidly  passed  by,  avoid- 
ing sedulously  to  glance  where  Bijou  could  be 
seen. 


BIJOU'S  COURTSHIP.  297 

•  Jeanne  Dubuisson,  a  little  thin,  was  stand- 
ing by  hei'  father's  side  and  waiting  for  the 
crowd  to  let  them  pass.  Behind  were  hand- 
some ladies  with  their  cavaliers  from  Pont- 
sur-Loire,  and  all  the  neighboring  chateaux, 
mingled  with  peasants  from  Bracieux.  His 
large  square  shoulders,  and  his  red  complexion 
well  defined  against  the  background  of  blue 
sky,  Charlemagne  Lavenue  in  holiday  attire 
was  seen  advancing  in  gigantic  strides.  And 
while  with  downcast  eye,  Bijou  appeared 
oblivious  to  all,  she  reveled  in  the  brilliant 
sun  shining  in  honor  of  her  nuptial  day,  and 
drank  full  deeply  of  the  joy  of  living,  being 
beloved,  and  beautiful.  Uncle  Alexis  offering 
her  his  arm  and  saying,  "whenever  it  may 
please  you,"  drew  her  from  her  ecstatic  rev- 
erie. Graceful  and  willowy,  she  then  began  her 
stately  march  up  the  broad  aisle,  to  the  grand 
organ's  solemn  swelling  tones.  A  cabman, 
who  had  come  into  the  church  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  wedding,  exclaimed,  on  seeing 
Bijou  pass: 

"  Nom  dhin  chienf  she's  a  daisy,  that  bride.'' 

To  which  a  farm  servant  of  "  Mait"  Lavenue 
replied  with  earnestness : 

"  OhI  but  isn't  she  though  ?  and  then,  eh  bief 
why  she  is  even  better  than  she  looks  1" 

The  End, 


NEELY'S  LATEST  BOOKS. 

%Jtiptaiu  Charles  King,  If.  S.  A, 

Trumpeter  Fred.     A  startling  story  of  th© 
plains.     Full  page  illustrations.     Bu'^.k- 
ram,  75  cents. 
An  Army  Wife.    Suspicion  and  intrigue  at 

headquarters.     i2mo.     Price  $1.25. 
Fort  Fkavne.     7th  edition.    i2mo.    $1.25. 
Max  Nordati. 

How  WoMtN  Love.     Study  and  stor\   bril* 

liant  and  energetic.     i2mo.     $1.25. 
The  Right  TO  Love.     i2mo.    $1.50, 
The  CoysDv  of  Sentiment.    i2mo.    $J  50, 
The  Ailment  of  the    Century,      i**  "'u 
$1.50. 
Mobert  W.  Chambers. 

The  King  in  Yellow.     Neely's  Prismatic 
Library.     75  cents. 
John  W.  Harding. 

An  Art   Failure.     A  story  of  the  Latin 
Quarter  as  it  is.     Profusely  illustrated. 
Neely's  Prismatic  Library.     75  cents. 
Mobert  Buchanan  and,  Henry  Murray, 

The  Charlatan.     i2mo.     $1.25. 
Anthony  Hoj)e. 

Father    Stafford.      The    author's    best 
story.  Neely's  Prismatic  Library.  Buck 
ram,  75  cents. 
Ethan  Allen's 

Washington,   or  the  Revolution.     In 
two  parts.     Each  part,  cloth,  $1.50. 
The  Bachelor  and  the  Chafing  Dish.     2nd 

Edidon.     $1.00. 
Cheiro's  Language  of  the  Hand.     5th  Edicion. 

$2.50. 
If  We  Only  Knew  and  other  poems  by  Cheiro* 

50  cents. 
I*aul  Bourget, 

The  DisciPLE.     lamo.    $1.25. 
The  Land  of  Promise.     16  page  illustrw* 
lions.     i2mo.     $1.50. 

F.  Tenneyson  Neely. 

U4  Fifth  AYenu«.  '^^  FratiiiLlia  iitrtwii. 


*  NEELY'S  PRISMATIC  LIBRARIf.  * 

GILT  TOP,  75  CENTS.  f^ 

"  I  know  of  nothing  in  tlie  book  line  that  equals  Neely's 
Prismatic  Library  for  elegance  and  careful  selection.  It 
sets  a  pace  that  others  will  not  easily  equal  and  none  sur- 
pass."—E.  A.  ROBINSON. 


SOAP  BUBBLES.  Max  Nordau.  Brilliant, 
fascinating,  intensely  interesting. 

BIJOU'S  COURTSHIPS.  "Gyp."  From  the 
French,  by  Katherine  di  Zerega.  Illus- 
trated. 

NOBLE  BLOOD.     By  Capt.   Charles  King. 

TRUnPETER  FRED.  Capt.  Charles  King, 
U.  S.  A.  Author  of  "  Fort  Frayne,"  "An 
Army  Wife,"  etc.,  with  full-page  illus- 
trations. 

A  startling  story  involving-  the  circumstantial  evi- 
dence of  murder  against  a  boy  in  the  Regular  Army. 

THB  KING  IN  YELLOW.  By  the  Author  of 
"  In  the  Quarter."  It  is  a  masterpiece.  .  . 
I  have  read  many  portions  several  times, 
captivated  by  the  unapproachable  tints  of 
the  painting.  None  but  a  genius  of  the 
highest  order  could  do  such  work. — 
Ediiiard  Ellis. 


By  the  Author  of  "The 
"Well  written,  bright, 
is  highly  dramatic." — 


IN  THE  QUARTER. 

King  in  Yellow." 

vivid;    the  ending 

Boston  Times. 
FATHER    STAFFORD.       Anthony    Hope. 

Author  of  "  The  Prisoner  of  Zenda." 
"  'Father  Stafford'  is  quite  the  best  thing  Hope  has  done 
so  far,  if  I  except  one  or  two  scenes  from  the  "Dolly 
Dialogues."— JOHN  OLIVER  HOBBES. 

AN  ART  FAILURE.  John  W.  Harding.  A 
story  of  the  Latin  Quarter  as  it  is.  More 
than  fifty  illustrations. 


For  sale  everywhere  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt 
of  price  by  the  publisher. 

r.  TENNYSON   NEELY, 

134  FIFTH  AVENUE,  -  NEW  YORK. 


THE   HOME    MAGAZINE. 

Edited  by  William  Mill  Butler.  Pabll<hed  hy  the  Commcnial  Travelers' 
Home  Ass™lali..ii  of  Aini-rlca,  at  Hin(;liaint'.n,  N.  Y.  The  Ariicrli-,.n  New« 
Company  and  Union  News  Companv,  publisliers'  aifents.  F.  E.  Morrison, 
advertising  manager,  6U0  Temple  Court,  New  York,  and  Boyce  Buildliw 
CI'  ';ago.  

T/ie  Ho7)te  Magazine  is  a  beautifully  illustrated  month- 
ly, resembling  in  size  and  general  appearance  the  other 
leading  magazines  of  the  day.  At  the  same  time  it  has  an 
individualily  of  its  own  and  qualities  which  endear  it  to  a 
wide  and  constantly  increasing  circle  of  readers  Its  aim 
is  to  convey  interesting  information  in  an  interesting  man- 
ner ;  to  cultivate  a  love  of  the  good,  and  the  true,  and  the 
beautiful;  to  amuse  as  well  as  to  enlighten;  to  represent 
human  life  and  human  energy  at  its  best,  and  inculcate  a 
spirit  of  helpfulness  and  benevolence.  Every  issue  is  re- 
plete with  choice  literature  for  the  family  circle  and  timely 
articles  on  the  great  events  and  movements  of  the  day.  Its 
staff  of  contributors  includes  many  of  the  brightest  and 
ablest  writers  of  the  day.  Original  contributions  have  ap- 
peared in  its  pages  from  Edward  Everett  Hale,  Julian 
Hawthorne,  Julia  Magruder,  John  Habberton,  W.  H.  H. 
Murray,  William  T.  Hornaday,  Alice  M.  Bacon,  W.  J. 
Henderson,  J.  Macdonald  Oxley,  Claude  Fayette  Bragdon, 
and  many  others.  Also  from  well-known  public  men,  like 
S.  M.  Cullom,  John  J.  Ingalls,  John  M.  Thurston,  Julius  C. 
Burrows,  H.  S.  Pingree,  Warner  Miller,  and  others. 
The  best  things  in  current  foreign  publications,  of  special 
interest  to  American  readers,  also  constitute  one  of  its 
splendid  features. 

The  Association  publishing  this  magazine  was  duly  in- 
corporated by  special  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  is  engaged  in  erecting  a  National  Home 
for  Commercial  Travelers  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y.  To  this 
benevolent  work  is  devoted  every  dollar  of  profit  realized 
from  the  pubhcation. 

WHAT  OTHERS  SAY  OP  IT. 

"  Brimful  of  good  reading." — Albany  Journal. 
*You  are  printing  a  splendid  magazine.*' — Elbert  Hubbard, 

**AaeicelK-nt  and  attractive  periodical." — Ella  Wheeler  Wilcox, 

**  A  really  handaome  magazine." — C  S,  Senator  JusiinS.  Morrill, 

*  Every  issue  is  replete  with  choice  literature." — B'^flon  Transcript, 

"  Growing  rapidly  iu  circulation  and  inf\uence."—Iljrhc.iter  roH-Exprett, 

"It  Is  attaining  wide  popularity  by  reason  of  its  general  excellence."— 
Rochester  Democrat  and  Chronicle, 

"  I  heartily  congratulate  you  on  the  success  you  are  making  ot  it."— Prof, 
J.  11,  Gilmore,  Universilij  of  Rochester. 

"  I  like  the  magazine  very  much,  and  predict  for  it  a  grand  succeas."— .Dr, 
Lewis  Swift,  the  well-known  astronomer, 

**  Contains  a  wealth  of  entertaining,  Instructive  and  well  Illustrated  matter 
between  its  attractive  covers."— P/ji/a-ff/p/iia  Record, 

"Has  already  secured  recognition  all  over  the  country  on  account  of  Its 
literary  merit  and  general  excellence." — .AVw  York  Times, 

**  The  magazine  depends  upon  general  literary  excellence  and  good  illustra- 
tions, rather  than  class  interest,  for  its  support." — ^ew  Yi>rk  Press. 

"  The  last  number  of  your  magazine  w.ts  excellent.  If  you  can  keep  that 
pace  it  is  bound  to  go  up  into  the  'leaders.*" — Gen.  Lew  Wallace,  author  of 
"Rtnllur." 

"Your  magazine  contains  so  much  interesting  matter  and  is  so  beauti- 
fully illu'stratid  that  it  is  certainly  a  great  credit  to  the  editor  and  Com- 
Birriinl  Travelers'  Home  Association."— rrr/.  Willis  L.  Moore,  Chief  U.  8. 
Weather  Rltreail. 

gyMeriptlon  Price,  $2.00  per  Annum;  Slagle  Copies,  25  Centi. 


FATHER  STAFFORD 

BY  ANTHONY    HOPE. 
The  Most  Remarkable  of  Mr.  Hope's  Stories. 


^fxlnneapolls       "This  story  Is  In  the  genuine  Hope  style 
Tribune  and  for  that  reason  will  he  widely  read." 

Public  Ledger.       "  '  Father  Stafford  "  is  extremely  clever, 
Pliiladelphia.  a  hold  privateer  venturing  upon  the 

high  seas." 
San  Francisco        ''It  Is  a  good  story,  the  strong  parts  o.' 
Chronicle  which  are  the  conflict  between  love  and 

conscience  on  the  part  of  a  young  Anglican  priest.     The 
charm  of  the  book,  however,  lies  in  the  briskness  of  the  dia- 
logue, which  is  as  finely  finished  as  any  of  Hope's  novels." 
Nashville       " 'Father  Stafford' is  a  charming  story.    The 
Banner  whole  book  sustains  the  reputation  that  An- 

thony Hope  has  made,  and  adds  another  proof  that  as  a 
portrayer  of  characters  of  sharp  distinctness  and  individ- 
uality, he  has  no  superior." 
Evening         "A  writer  of  great  merit.    .    .    .    Mr.  Hope's 
Wisconsin         work  has  a  quality  of  straightforwardness 
that  recommends  it  to  readers  who  have  grown  tired  of 
the  loaded  novel." 
Phillipsburg       "  This  is  considered  by  his  critics  to  be  one 
Journal  of  the  strongest,  most  beautiful  and  In- 

teresting novels  Mr.  Hope  has  ever  written.    There  is  not 
a  dull  line  in  the  entire  volume." 
Amusement       "The  dialogue  is  bright  and  worldly,  and 
Gazette  the  other  characters  do  not  suffer  because 

so  prominent  is  the  hero  ;  they  are  well  drawn,  and  quite 
out  of  the  ordinary." 
%Janity,  "  A  very  interesting  narrative,  and  Mr.  Hopl 

New  York        tells  the  story  after  that  fashion  which  ha 

would  seem  to  have  made  peculiarly  his  own." 
Kansas  City       "There  is  something  more  than  the  romance 
Journal  of  the  action  to  hold  the  reader's  mind.  It 

is  one  of  the  author's  best  productions." 
Every  Saturday,       "  Anthony  Hope  is  a  master  of  dialogue, 
Elgin,  lU.  and  to  his  art  in  this  particular  is  due 

the  enticing  interest  which  leads  the  reader  on  from  page 
to  page." 
Hebrew         "  The  strife  between  the  obligation  of  a  vow  of 
Standard  celibacy  and  the  promptings  of  true  love  are 

vividly  portrayed  in  this  little  book.   .    .    .    It  contains  an 
admirable  description  of  English  country  life,  and  is  well 
written'' 
Boston  Daily      "  It  has  enough  of  the  charm  of  the  au« 
Globe  thor's  thought  and  style  to  identify  J*  a,« 

'   "liaracteristlc,  and  make  it  very  pleasing." 

Buckram.  Gilt  Top.      tietail,  75  Cents. 


The  King  in  Yellow. 

_7  ROBERT  W.  CHAMBERS. 


Baward       "  The  author  Is  a  genius  without  a  Uving  eqosl. 
Ellis  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  in  his  peculiar  Held.    li 

is  a  masterpiece.  ...  I  have  read  many  portions  ser- 
eral  times,  captivated  by  the  unapproachable  tints  of  th« 
painting.  None  but  a  genius  of  the  highest  order  could 
do  such  work." 
N.  Y.  Commercial  "  The  short  prose  tale  should  be  a  sjm- 
Advertiser  thesis  ;  it  was  the  art  of  Edgar  Poe, 

it  is  the  art  of  Mr.  Chambers.  .  .  .  His  is  beyond  ques- 
tion a  glorious  heritage.  ...  I  fancy  the  book  will 
create  a  sensation  ;  ...  in  any  case  it  is  the  most 
notable  contribution  to  literature  which  has  come  from  an 
American  publisher  for  many  years  ;  and  line  as  the  ac- 
complishment is, '  The  King  in  Yellow '  is  large  in  promise. 
One  has  a  right  to  expect  a  great  deal  from  an  author  of 
this  calibre." 
Times-  "  The  most  eccentric  little  voliime  of  its  (little) 
Herald  day.    '  The  King  in  Yellow '  is  subtly  fascinat- 

ing, and  compels  attention  for  its  style  and  its  wealth  of 
strange,  imaginative  force." 
New  York       "Mr.  Robert  W.  Chambers  does  not  have  a 
Times  system  to  work  up  to ;  he  has  no  fad,  save  a 

tendency  to  write  about  the  marvelous  and  the  impossible; 
painting  pictures  of  romance  that  have  a  wild  inspiration 
about  them.  Descriptive  powers  of  no  mean  quality  are 
perceptible  in  this  volume  of  stories." 
The  N.  Y.  "Mr.  Chambers  has  a  great  command  of 
World  words  ;  he  is  a  good  painter.    His  situations 

are  most  delicately  touched,  and  some  of  his  descriptions 
are  exquisite.  He  writes  like  an  artist.  He  uses  colors 
rather  than  ideas.  .  .  .  The  best  drama  in  the  volume 
means  madness.  The  tenderest  fancy  is  a  sad  mirage. 
.  .  .  'The  King  in  Yellow' is  a  very  interesting  contri- 
bution to  the  present  fund  of  materio-mysticism.  .  .  . 
To  read  Mr.  Chambers' little  book  is  to  escape  from  the  ac- 
tual on  poetical  wings." 
Minneapolis  ••They  have  a  mysterious,  eerie  air  about 
Tribune  them  that  is  apt  to  stimulate  the  reader's 

curiosity." 

Pbiladelpuia       "Charming,  delicate,  skplful,  vivid." 
Times 

Philadelplila       "  Expected  to  make  a  sensation,  charming, 
Item  full  of  color  and  delicately  tinted." 

Cleveland       "  It  is  wondrous  strong,  dramatic,  full  of  color. 
Gazette  weird,  uncanny,  picturesque,  and  yet  a  gem 

of  exquisite  coloring,  dreamy,  symbolic,  exciting." 
Detroit       "  '  The  King  in  Yellow '  compels  attention." 
Journal 

Denver       "Treated  in  a  most  fascinating  way  J    Weicd, 
'Ximes  mysterious,  powerfull", 

Buckram,  QUt  Top.     Retail,  75  Ccntf 


PQ  ^ 
^347 

MuBsE 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


Ur  '^OLITHERN  RrniONAL  :  tHRARY  CAril  T, 


A     000  795  878     8 


V 


:Ji  WL/lAi.^:i|y;^;:j 


2is£;!3i5?-s''"?^ 


•■? 


